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Hollister High boys basketball took a late second quarter run to a 60-37 win over Marina High on Jan. 29.
The Balers scored 8 points in the first quarter and were on a similar pace in the second. In a low scoring contest, they were deadlocked with the Mariners at 16-16 with less than two minutes remaining in the half.
Coming off the bench, guard Emmie Aquino scored Hollister’s next eight points starting with back-to-back 3-pointers. He capped the run with a steal and a layup.
“I’m so happy for that kid,” senior forward Devin Townshend said of the senior guard. “He works his tail off every single practice.”
Townshend also praised Aquino’s determination as a defender.
“He’s in their grill, he’s all up in them,” he said.
![Guard Chandler Crutcher (#4) was often the first line of defense on Jan. 29 game against Marina. Photo by Jessica Parga.]()
Guard Chandler Crutcher (#4) was often the first line of defense on Jan. 29 game against Marina. Photo by Jessica Parga. ![Guard Brody Cotter (#11) and teammates take defensive positions versus Marina. Photo by Jessica Parga.]()
Guard Brody Cotter (#11) and teammates take defensive positions versus Marina. Photo by Jessica Parga. ![Center Kody Dickens (#31) battles Marina defenders in the paint on Jan. 29, 2025. He finished the game with six points. Photo by Jessica Parga.]()
Center Kody Dickens (#31) battles Marina defenders in the paint on Jan. 29, 2025. He finished the game with six points. Photo by Jessica Parga. ![Senior Brody Cotter (#11) scored eight points against Marina High School. Photo by Jessica Parga.]()
Senior Brody Cotter (#11) scored eight points against Marina High School. Photo by Jessica Parga.
Aquino, who went on to lead all scorers with 13 points, said the team had more confidence in the second half.
“At the beginning of the game we couldn’t hit shots and then we start hitting them,” he said. “The confidence went up and we were all encouraging each other.”
With a 24-16 lead at halftime, the Balers found their rhythm in the third quarter, scoring 21 points, all coming from their starting five lineup. Townshend led the third quarter scoring with six points. He finished the game with 12 points.
Townshend said he felt the team moved the ball well and took unselfish shots.
With a 19-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Balers grew more selective in their shots. They scored 15 points on 12 shots.
Coach David Kaplansky said the Hollister defence did a great job limiting Marina’s shooting. The Balers did not allow more than 11 points in each of the quarters.
“The defense was consistent all night,” Kaplansky said. “It gave us a chance to win the game tonight.”
He said he opted to use zone defense, forcing Marina to shoot, and that this gave his team a better chance to win the game.
“The match-up zone put us in the right spots to cover the spots they wanted to go to,” Kaplansky said.
Hollister’s record is 6-3 in league play and 10-7 overall. The Balers’ losses have come against Watsonville and North Monterey County, the two teams tied for the lead in the PCAL-Mission conference with 8-1 league records.
The Balers play at Seaside High on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. Hollister defeated Seaside, which is winless this season, 87-21 in their first matchup earlier this month.
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