MEGAN MEDLAND, LIVE OAK
Prep2Prep Student Contributor

February 8, 2013

The Live Oak boys basketball team lost Saturday night 53-36 to visiting Andrew Hill.

“(Live Oak’s) always a tough game for us,” said Andrew Hill coach Ben Herning, “They’re a very good school; very good team; with a very good coach. We knew they’d play us real tough.”

Last time these two teams played was in mid- January. Andrew Hill was given a show, but eventually won 49-48.

“Last time we beat them by one; it was a very close game,” said Herning. “So I was expecting a very good game and we got one.”

Earlier this week Live Oak (9-13, 4-8), mired in sixth place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley standings, fell out of the running for the CCS playoffs.

“Even though we might not have been eligible for CCS, we still wanted to end the season on a good note and finish with some wins,” said Live Oak senior and captain Eddie Plascencia. “Sure it was in our heads, but really we were just focusing on getting this game.”

Second-place Andrew Hill (13-8, 9-3), meantime, looks forward to the postseason.

“We’re trying to get into the playoffs," Herning said. "We’re in second place. Tonight was a very big game and the team really played together as a group. They kept their cool on the road. They did exactly what I asked them to do.”

With the Falcons being the first to score, they maintained the lead throughout the entire game.

“They were more mentally and physically aggressive. We were more timid,” said Plascencia (15 points). “They attacked the basket and they came on strong. We were a little intimidated, but overall they just played harder than we did. They came out on top as a better team.”

Plascencia scored 11 of his points in the first half.

Said Andrew Hill senior center Joseph Foster (19 points): “Our expectation for today’s game was to come out and play defense. That was from the get go because the other night we didn’t play very good defense. We were trying to switch everything and get (it in) our mindset to talk. We did that this game and that’s why we had a good lead by the time halftime came.”

At half, the Falcons held on to a 27-24 lead. After the break, he Falcons were able to extend their lead to 38-31 by the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter they kept up the pressure, with Foster scoring six of his points.

Andrew Hill hosts its last home league game on Wednesday against Yerba Buena.

“Our expectations are to work as a team. We’re a family,” said Foster. “We have an excellent coach that tells us what to do to adjust to their offense and their defense. That’s what helped us a lot tonight.”

This coming Wednesday is also senior night for Live Oak.

“I hope we play our best and give (the crowd) a show,” said Plascencia.