SALINAS VALLEY — Gonzales began the Cypress Division with a 45-44 loss at Soledad but rebounded with a 52-50 home win against the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs.
Fernando De Leon led the Spartans in scoring with 15 points, Edgar Mendoza joined De Leon in double figures with 11 points and Noah Rodriguez and Alex Hernandez combined for 16 points.
Soledad’s Pedro Morales led all scorers with 22 points and added four assists. Calvin DeShazo had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Mendoza came up huge in the Monte Vista game with a game-winning three-point basket at the buzzer. Jorge Uribe assisted on the winning shot. It was a great team effort as Eduardo Barragan had 11 points, Noah Rodriguez, Jorge Uribe and Alex Hernandez combined for 34 points.
The Spartans (5-7 overall, 1-1 Cypress) played Monday at North Salinas, host the King City Mustangs on Wednesday night and travel to Greenfield on Friday.
The Aztecs wrapped up the week with an overwhelming 51-27 win last Thursday against Seaside. Morales and DeShazo each scored 12 points.
Soledad (6-6 overall, 2-0 Cypress) hosted Pacific Collegiate on Monday, plays at Greenfield on Wednesday and travels to Watsonville on Friday to play Monte Vista Christian.
Greenfield opened the Cypress Division with a 68-54 loss to North Salinas and a 74-46 victory over Pacific Collegiate. In the North Salinas game in Salinas last Tuesday, Johnnie Miranda scored 19 points and sophomore Omar Flores had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Kenny Pajas contributed with eight points.
In the game with Pacific Collegiate, Flores had 21 points, Pajas added 13 points, Miranda scored 12 points and Nate Trujillo had eight points.
Greenfield will be out to improve their 1-1 record as they had a game with King City on Monday, play at home Wednesday with Soledad and finish the week with a contest at Gonzales on Friday.
King City played two Cypress Divisional games, losing on the road to Monte Vista Christian, 60-49, last Tuesday and falling 59-43 to visiting North Salinas.
Johell Carrillo was the leading scorer against Monte Vista with 21 points and finished with 17 rebounds. Alexis Alvarado joined Carrillo in double figures with 14 points.
Against North Salinas, Carrillo scored 21 points and Alvarado added 12 points.
King City is 5-6 overall and 0-2 in the Cypress Division with games this week at home with Greenfield on Monday, the Gonzales rivalry game Wednesday and will host Seaside on Friday.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Soledad girls started play in the Gabilan Division with a 65-46 loss to the Hollister Haybalers and a 37-31 road win against the Pacific Grove Breakers.
In the win over the Breakers, Delylah Ocampo led the Aztecs in scoring with 17 points and added seven rebounds. Jesssica Morales just missed double figures with nine points, while Xochitl Orozco added seven points and seven rebounds.
“Against Hollister, Aaliyah Velarde led us with 14 points,” said Soledad head coach Kevin Pena. “We struggled to make open shots this week.”
The Aztecs fell to 1-1 in the Gabilan Division and 9-3 overall. Soledad played at Alisal on Monday night, will host the Salinas Cowboys on Wednesday and finish a busy week at home with the Robert Louis Stevenson Pirates.
King City split their games last week in the Cypress Division, downing Pajaro Valley, 60-16, and losing 37-34 to the North Salinas Vikings.
Dania Rodriguez led the Mustangs in scoring against Pajaro Valley with 11 points and Alizah Carrillo had nine points. In the North Salinas contest, Carrillo led King City with 19 points.
King City is 6-6 overall and 1-1 to start the Cypress Division. The Mustangs played at Greenfield on Monday, play host to rival Gonzales on Wednesday and play at Seaside on Friday.
Gonzales girls are 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the Cypress Division.
The Lady Spartans lost 56-38 at home to Marina last Tuesday. Karyna Maturino and Camilla Ramirez led the team with nine points apiece. Maryanne Camarena was praised for her defensive efforts and came up with seven steals.
On Thursday night, the Spartans lost 46-29 to Pajaro Valley. Ramirez led Gonzales with 12 points and 13 rebounds and Camarena added six points and nine rebounds.
The Spartans hosted North Salinas on Monday, play at King City on Wednesday and finish the week at Greenfield on Friday.
The Lady Bruins are 1-9 overall and 0-2 in the Cypress Division.
Greenfield lost 48-28 to the North Salinas last Tuesday and were beaten 51-12 against the host Pacific Collegiate Pumas last Thursday in Santa Cruz.
This week the Bruins hosted King City on Monday, travel to Marina on Wednesday and will host Gonzales on Friday.
