SALINAS VALLEY — The Gonzales High boys basketball team won two of three games in the Cypress Division last week, beating North Salinas, 53-51, and Greenfield, 44-40, and losing 57-43 to King City.
Against the North Salinas Vikings, Fernando De Leon led Gonzales with 22 points and Noah Rodriguez added 15 points. In the game with the Bruins, freshman Alex Hernandez led the way with 16 points and Edgar Mendoza scored 10 points.
The Spartans are 3-2 in the division and 7-8 overall.
King City had an exceptional week in the Cypress Division, as they won three straight games.
The Mustangs beat Greenfield at home, 60-54, beat Gonzales, 57-43, and downed Seaside, 65-45.
In the game with the Bruins, King City’s Johell Carrillo had a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Zavier Wilson had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Carrillo scored another 22 points in the Gonzales game, and Wilson added 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
In the home game with Seaside last Friday, Alexis Alvarado scored 27 points, including seven three-point baskets that tied him for third in school history for most made in a single game.
King City is 3-2 in the Cypress Division and 8-6 overall.
“We have been playing really well as of late,” said Mustang coach Jordan Ramirez. “If I had to point to an area of growth, it would be continuing to build consistency, especially in communication and execution on both ends of the floor. As the team keeps playing together and trusting one another, those small improvements will really elevate their game.”
The Greenfield Bruins lost three Cypress Division games last week, two on the road to King City and Gonzales, and at home to Soledad.
At King City, Omar Flores led Greenfield with 21 points, while Johnnie Miranda scored 12 points, Nate Trujillo scored 12 points and Guillermo Martinez had eight points. In the Soledad game, Miranda led the Bruins in scoring with 25 points, and Flores joined his teammate in double figures with 11 points.
At the Roger Fernando Gym on Friday in Gonzales, Miranda had a team-high 12 points and Trujillo, Flores and Kenny Pajas all had seven points apiece.
Soledad was 2-1 for the week with a 71-32 win over Pacific Collegiate, downed Greenfield, 69-51, and lost 92-82 to Monte Vista Christian (MVC).
Pedro Morales had 25 points and Jeronimo Morales scored 16 against Pacific Collegiate. In the Greenfield game, Pedro Morales led Soledad with 30 points and Jeronimo Morales added 15 points. Ayden Urquidez scored 12 points, and Calvin DeShazo just missed a double-double with eight points and 13 boards.
In the loss to MVC, Pedro Morales scored 34 points with nine three-point baskets. Urquidez added 15 points and Jeronimo Morales scored 13 points. DeShazo had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
“We have a young group who have been improving rapidly,” said Bruins head coach Nick Twitchell. “If we continue to grow, our season will be successful.”
In boys games Thursday, Gonzales plays at Pacific Collegiate, Soledad travels to King City to play the Mustangs, and Greenfield will host Seaside.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The King City girls basketball team won its fourth straight game to improve 4-1 in the Cypress Division of the Pacific Coast Athletic League and is 9-6 overall.
In their first game of the week, the Lady Mustangs defeated Greenfield on the road, 51-32. Alizah Carrillo, Kendyl Burpo, Mikayla McLane and Yari Ramirez all scored six points.
Last Wednesday at home, King City downed Gonzales, 65-28. Katia Slama led in scoring with 13 points, Crystal Paramo had 10 points and Dania Rodriguez added nine points.
Last Friday night at Seaside, King City crushed the Spartans, 55-5. Paramo led the Lady Mustangs with 16 points, Rodriguez just missed double figures with nine points, and Burpo contributed with eight points.
Maryanne Camarena and Priscilla Hurtado each contributed eight points, and Aalyse Martinez added six points.
“I think things are going well,” said King City head coach Angel Trujillo. “We have really been improving on being better defensively and being able to bring energy for a full 32 minutes.”
Soledad (2-3 in Gabilan, 10-5 overall) won one of three division games last week.
In their first game in Salinas last Monday, the Lady Aztecs were beaten 59-28. Atiana Landeros led Soledad with seven points and Jessica Morales had five points.
Two nights later at home, the Salinas Cowboys beat Soledad, 43-31. Delylah Ocampo led the Aztecs in scoring with nine points and Aliyah Velarde added seven points. Morales and Xochitl Orozco combined for nine points.
In the final game of the week, Soledad won 47-18 at home against the Robert Louis Stevenson Pirates. Velarde led Soledad with 15 points and Morales joined her in double figures with 14 points. Ocampo added seven points.
“Our guards Delylah Ocampo, Aliyah Velarde and Jessica Morales really anchored our play,” said Soledad coach Kevin Pena. “We really struggled to begin the week, but as we progressed we found ourselves and ended on a high note.”
Greenfield (2-3 in Cypress, 3-10 overall) recovered from the loss to King City to win 36-33 on the road to Marina, and defeated Gonzales at home by a 38-29 score.
Ashley Ramos led the Lady Bruins with 10 points against the Mariners and Bella Figueroa had eight points.
In the Gonzales contest, Figueroa scored eight points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Laila Ortiz just missed double figures with eight points.
Alyssa Sandoval led Gonzales in scoring with nine points and Martinez contributed with eight points, while Hurtado had a total of 10 rebounds. Camarena played hard on defense and added nine steals and deflections.
Last Monday Gonzales lost 48-31 to North Salinas at home. Hurtado led the Spartans with 12 points, including three three-point baskets. Camarena had nine steals and Camila Ramirez pounded the boards with 12 rebounds.
Scheduled girls games on Thursday have Soledad hosting Monterey, Greenfield at Seaside, King City at Marina and Gonzales has a bye week.
