John Bobich, in his 26th season coaching basketball at San Pedro High, knows a few tricks of the trade. All you had to do was listen and watch in the third quarter when he put 6-foot-5 junior Aidan Applegate into the game. Applegate crouched at the writing table, waiting for the bell to ring.
“This is your chance,” Bobich told him.
Applegate had a shot blocked, which didn’t deter him. Comfortable and confident in the fourth quarter, he scored eight points and finished with eight rebounds to help San Pedro pull away from Granada Hills 64-51 in the Marquez Tournament matchup between two potential City Section Open Division playoff teams.
Applegate said when he heard Bobich’s words of motivation, he thought, “This is my chance to show what I can do.”
Bobich has known Applegate since she was 8 years old. In fact, Bobich knows most of his San Pedro players from coaching or watching them play in local recreational leagues. His son is on the team. San Pedro is 12-4 and favored to win the Marine League. Ricky Alonso led the scoring with 19 points and Elias Redlow, AJ Bobich and Chris Morgan each added 10 points.
Granada Hills received 20 points from Kristapor Kedikian. Applegate celebrated his 17th birthday with the team serenading him.
Girls basketball
Birmingham 54, Kennedy 46: The Patriots (14-3) got 21 points from Kayla Tanijiri.
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