Losing 61-60 at Bob Hagen Gym, Gilroy dropped to 3-3 on the season while the Cougars, who were missing two starters due to injury, improved to 1-4.

"It's our first win of the season," Cougars coach Bob Payne said after the game. "We finally put offense and defense together, and it came against a good team."

Gilroy had a chance to escape with a victory with 5.3 seconds left and possession of the ball, but an inbounds play to get guard Derek Jensen driving to the basket didn't result in a shot or foul as the ball was knocked loose, letting the clock expire.

Jensen thought he was fouled.

"I understand things don't always go your way, but [the defender] didn't come close to the ball," Jensen said.

Senior guard Nick Beevers led SLV with 33 points - 22 in the first half - with the bulk of them coming by way of nine three-pointers.

"When they're playing that way you gotta let them go - go with the hot hand," Payne said in reference to giving Beevers the green light to keep shooting.

Thanks to a buzzer-beating layup by Jensen, who finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, Gilroy held a 34-33 advantage at halftime. A lack of tenacity on the boards by the Mustangs and an inability to get a hand in Beevers' face kept the game close throughout, though.

"We didn't execute," GHS coach Bud Ogden said. "We've not had great practices lately ... and I think it carried over. I think some kids may have underestimated [SLV] and that was a big mistake."

The one GHS player that could take little blame for the defeat was Conrad. A terror on both ends of the court, Conrad dominated inside against a Cougars lineup that stood no taller than 6-feet-3-inches.

"Our overall intensity, which goes along with being mentally prepared to play, is not where it should be," Ogden said. "Jason tries hard to lead by example and no one seems to be following."

Lorenzo Dobson had 11 points and 11 rebounds, but was in foul trouble early and seemed tentative to assert himself throughout the contest. Elijah Harrell and Tyler Hartman pitched in three points apiece.

The Mustangs' guards had little success setting a tempo and no one seemed to provide a spark off the bench.

It was the second loss for Gilroy at home in as many games, and wasn't the type of performance the team was hoping for heading into the Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament starting Thursday.

The team will have a day off to regroup before facing Pajaro Valley Thursday at 8 p.m. in the first round.