SALINAS VALLEY — High school basketball teams in South Monterey County will be entering the second half of divisional play starting this week, and will be battling to finish with .500 records to earn Central Coast Section playoff consideration.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Gonzales senior center Angelina Navarro had three straight double-doubles (points and assists) as the Lady Spartans improved to 5-0 in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Santa Lucia Division.
On Jan. 13, the Spartans won 64-30 in Monterey against the York School. Navarro’s stat line was 18 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocked shots. Karyna Maturino added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Evelyn Perea, Jenesis De La Rosa and Camilla Ramirez combined for 15 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists.
Two nights later at the Roger Fernando Gym in Gonzales, the Spartans downed the Anzar Hawks 35-17. Navarro scored 14 points with 19 rebounds, five assists and five blocks. Perea scored four points with 12 rebounds and five assists, and Priscilla Hurtado contributed with five assists, eight rebounds and three assists.
In their third game of the week, Gonzales traveled to Gilroy and defeated Oakwood by a 35-11 score. Navarro grabbed a game-high 28 rebounds, scored 15 points, had 10 assists, with 11 blocks and six steals. Maturino had seven points with 12 rebounds, five assists and eight steals. Ailette Reyes finished with six points, 16 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and four steals.
The Greenfield girls were 1-1 in games played last week, crushing the Santa Catalina Cougars 55-10 at home on Tuesday and falling 67-38 to the St. Francis Sharks on Thursday.
King City had a loss and a win in the division, losing 34-24 at home to the Palma Chieftains last Tuesday night, and overwhelming the host Seaside Spartans 51-15 last Thursday.
Alizah Carrillo and Mikayla McLane both scored eight points in the setback to Palma, and Amity Hearne finished the game with 15 rebounds. In the victory over Seaside, Carrillo and Crystal Paramo led the Mustangs by scoring 11 points apiece.
Soledad was .500 for the week, with a 64-38 home win against Everett Alvarez and a 47-25 loss to the visiting Watsonville Wildcatz.
In the win against Everett Alvarez, Delylah Ocampo scored 27 points, with eight assists and five steals. Justina Botello scored 14 points eight rebounds and three assists, and Aliyah Velarde joined her teammates in double figures in scoring with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
In games this week, Gonzales played Tuesday night in Marina; King City plays Wednesday at Pajaro Valley in Watsonville and will battle Greenfield Bruins on Friday; Soledad will play just one game this week as they host the Salinas Cowboys on Friday night at the Aztec gym.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The Soledad boys’ basketball team won two games in a row last week, defeating the visiting Pacific Collegiate on Jan. 14 and winning at King City 44-35 on Jan. 16.
Against Pacific Collegiate, Pablo Morales scored 29 points to lead Soledad and Anikan Tavarez scored 12 points and had seven rebounds. Pedro Morales and Calvin DeShazo scored six points each and Anthony Medina made four steals. Pedro Morales also had four assists.
At King City, Pedro Morales scored 19 points and Pablo Morales added 11 points. Medina led Soledad with 11 rebounds and Tavarez contributed with eight. Bryan Villegas had four steals in the contest.
Cesar Celedon led the Mustangs in scoring with 19 points and eight rebounds, and teammate Jose Correa just missed double figures with nine points and had five rebounds.
King City began the week with a 47-32 loss to North Salinas.
In their only game of the week, the Greenfield Bruins had a productive night with 83 points, but it was not enough in a 93-83 loss to the St. Francis Sharks in Watsonville.
Bruins’ Jonathan Miranda was on fire with 38 points, including eight 3-point baskets. Chris Morris added 18 points with four 3-point baskets, and Naythen Hernandez scored 13 points with three 3-point baskets.
The Sharks held a two-point lead at the half but pulled away in the third quarter by outscoring the Bruins 32-16.
Gonzales played two games last week losing 60-50 at home against St. Francis, and downing Pacific Collegiate on the road 69-30. In the win, Andre Gonzales and Jayden Vasquez scored 15 points apiece for the Spartans, and Ray Blanco added 14 points.
In games this week, Soledad hosts North Salinas on Wednesday night; Greenfield hosts Pacific Collegiate on Wednesday and plays at King City on Friday; the Mustangs played at Gonzales on Tuesday night; and the Spartans play at North Salinas on Friday.
