SALINAS VALLEY — The final three weeks of high school basketball will be competitive as South Monterey County teams will be playing their respective divisional foes for the second time.
In the boys’ Cypress Division of the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Soledad is leading the division, while Gonzales and Greenfield are tied at third place and King City is in sixth place.
In the girls’ Cypress Division, King City is in second place behind St. Francis, and Greenfield is in fifth place. Soledad girls’ team is tied at fourth in the Gabilan Division with Alisal, and Gonzales is in third place in the Santa Lucia Division.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
At Gonzales on Jan. 22, the host Spartans pulled away from the visiting King City Mustangs in the second half to claim a 63-49 victory.
Sophomore Fernando De Leon scored 27 points with some timely baskets to lead the Spartans. Teammate Andre Gonzales added 12 points, and Ray Blanco joined his teammates in double-figures in scoring with 10 points.
Two nights later, Gonzales traveled to Salinas and lost 72-42 to the North Salinas Vikings, while King City completed the week with an 83-44 home loss to Greenfield.
In the Friday game at King City, the Bruins’ Jonathan Miranda had 22 points and Naythen Hernandez finished with 18 points, 12 assists and 11 steals. Chris Morris had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Angel Guerrero scored 10 points with five rebounds.
The Bruins began the week with a 57-50 home win against Pacific Collegiate. Hernandez led the Bruins with 19 points, Miranda scored 11 points and Omar Flores led Greenfield in rebounding with 11 boards.
Bruins head coach Mark Hadden feels that every South Monterey County team will play well in the second half of play in the Cypress Division.
“I think that most all of the teams are evenly matched as far as talent goes, and it’s whoever comes to the games more motivated, aggressive and with energy will win,” Hadden said. “In the first half, St. Francis and Soledad did that and it’s why they are on top.”
The first-place Soledad Aztecs played just one game last week, defeating the North Salinas Vikings, 59-45, at home.
Pablo Morales was the high scorer for the Aztecs with 24 points. Pedro Morales scored 11 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Anikan Tavarez led Soledad with 10 rebounds and scored six points and handed out four assists.
While the Aztecs are currently in first place in the division, head coach Nick Twitchell wants his team to keep improving every game.
“We will see how things go as the second half of division play is always tougher,” Twitchell said. “Going to have to improve from the first go around. Hoping to give ourselves a chance at the title.”
In games to be played this week: Gonzales (5-8 overall, 3-3 in the Cypress) played at Soledad on Tuesday night; King City (2-13, 1-5) hosted St. Francis on Tuesday and plays Pacific Collegiate in Santa Cruz on Thursday; and Greenfield (9-8, 3-3) played at North Salinas on Tuesday night and plays in Soledad on Thursday.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
The King City girls have improved together after a slow start at the beginning of the basketball season. The Mustangs began the season with nine straight losses but have regrouped to be in second place in the Cypress at 5-2 and improved to 6-11 overall.
King City has a three-game winning streak going, and last week they had two wins, including a 49-18 home win with Pajaro Valley last Wednesday and a 59-43 victory on the road at Greenfield on Friday.
In the Pajaro Valley game, Crystal Paramo led King City by scoring eight points, Janesa Lopez added seven points and Amity Hearn scored six points along with 15 rebounds. Mikayla McLane finished with six points.
In the Greenfield game, Alizah Carrillo had 21 points and went five of eight from the 3-point line. Lopez scored 10 points, Katia Slama had 13 points, and Hearne collected 17 rebounds. Paramo added 13 rebounds.
In the loss to King City, Aleena Salas scored 10 points, Lesley Santiago scored six points with 16 rebounds, and Jenny Villa joined her teammates in double figures in scoring with 10 points.
In their first game of the week, the Bruins lost 49-39 to Pacific Collegiate. Salas had 20 points and five steals for Greenfield. Santiago led the Bruins with 10 rebounds and scored three points, and Villa scored 11 points.
Soledad played just one game last week, falling to visiting Watsonville 47-26 in the Aztec gym on Friday.
Delylah Ocampo led Soledad in scoring with 17 points and added three steals and six rebounds. Camilla Lopez had 10 rebounds and Justina Botello added 10 rebounds and had three assists.
Gonzales fell from the unbeaten ranks in the Santa Lucia Division after a 55-36 loss against division-leading Marina. The host Mariners were led by Shekinah Willams with 29 points and 12 rebounds.
In this week’s scheduled games: King City hosted St. Francis on Tuesday night and will host Pacific Collegiate on Thursday; Greenfield (3-9 overall, 3-4) hosted Palma on Tuesday night and will host Seaside on Thursday; Soledad (13-5 overall, 3-3) played at Monterey on Tuesday and will host Alisal on Thursday; and Gonzales (3-1 overall, 2-1) hosted Notre Dame on Monday night and will host the York School on Friday.
