SALINAS VALLEY — For the first time since 2017, the King City boys’ basketball team has started the season with a winning record at 3-1.
The Mustangs won three straight games last week after opening the pre-season with a 68-57 loss at Templeton.
“I’m very happy on how we have started and how this team has come together so quickly,” said Mustang head coach Jordan Ramirez. “It has been a complete team effort. I’m even more excited because I know we still have so much more room to grow.”
Last Tuesday the Mustangs defeated the host Paso Robles Bearcats, 49-27. Johell Carrillo led King City with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Zavier Wilson added 15 points and eight assists.
At home on Friday, Carrillo scored 21 points and had 14 rebounds in a 54-49 home win against Morro Bay. Wilson contributed with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds.
In the final game of the week, Carrillo had his third double-double of the week, scoring 14 points and adding 15 rebounds. Wilson finished with 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
King City played at Marina on Monday and will finish the week at Pajaro Valley on Thursday night.
The King City girls’ basketball team finished 2-2 for the week, beating Gilroy and Monte Vista Christian and losing to Monterey and Robert Louis Stevenson.
The Lady Mustangs began the week with a 42-37 loss to Monterey, followed by a 58-34 loss to Stevenson. They then won two in a row, beating Gilroy, 51-28, and defeating MVC, 79-37.
“This is a special group of girls that are going to accomplish a lot this year and they are learning and getting better day by day,” said King City coach Angel Trujillo. “I can’t wait to see where this season takes us.”
Alizah Carrillo led the Mustangs with a 12.5 scoring average for the week, and Mikayla McLane led the team in rebounding with an eight rebound per game average. Crystal Paramo led King City in steals and assists, averaging 2.5 in each category.
On Tuesday night, the Lady Mustangs hosted Pajaro Valley and will play at North Salinas on Thursday.
SOLEDAD
The Soledad boys are 2-1 in the pre-season after games against Marina, Pajaro Valley and Gilroy.
At home on Nov. 29, the Aztecs defeated the Marina Mariners, 79-41.
Pedro Morales led Soledad in scoring against Marina with 24 points. Jeronimo Morales added 17 points, and Calvin DeShazo finished in double figures in scoring with 13 points and had 11 rebounds.
Last Tuesday in the Aztec gym, Soledad overwhelmed the Pajaro Valley Grizzlies, 69-18. Pedro Morales led the Aztecs in scoring with 14 points.
In their final game of the week, Soledad lost 67-60 to the host Gilroy Mustangs. Pedro Morales led the Aztecs with 28 points and Jeronimo Morales added 13 points.
In their only game this week, Soledad boys played at Pacific Grove on Tuesday night.
The Soledad girls’ basketball team had its win streak snapped last Thursday at home, as they fell 32-27 to the Palma Chieftains. The Lady Aztecs are 2-1 in pre-season contests.
Delylah Ocampo led Soledad with nine points and nine rebounds. Defensively, Aliyah Velarde and Atiana Landeros led the team.
“My team executed what we needed to do on defense but we struggled on the offensive side,” said Soledad head coach Kevin Pena. “Missing open shots is a part of the game, and despite our struggles on that side of the ball, we didn’t let it affect our defensive principles. I loved our mindset of continuing to focus on what we could control.”
The Lady Aztecs have three road games this week as they played at Greenfield on Monday, travel to Carmel on Thursday, and complete the week at Notre Dame of San Jose.
GONZALES
On Friday, the Gonzales High boys defeated visiting San Lorenzo Valley, 68-57.
Fernando De Leon led Gonzales with 21 points. Joining De Leon in double figures was Jorge Uribe with 14 points, Joshua Mariscal with 13 points and freshman Alexander Hernandez with 11 points.
“This game, the key to our success was great rebounding and our physicality,” said Gonzales head coach Steve Bentley. “Our next games will be at the Central Catholic Tournament on Dec. 10 to 13.”
The Gonzales girls’ basketball team has only played one game, losing 44-37 to Harbor on Nov. 25. They will next compete in the 42nd Annual Ken Kline Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.
GREENFIELD
The Greenfield boys’ basketball team is 1-2 in the pre-season with a win over Liberty Babtist at the Jose Solis/Vantory Miles/Richard Solis Memorial Tournament, and losses to Hollister and North Salinas.
They lost 79-48 to Hollister, beat Liberty Babtist 85-60 and then lost 88-80 against North Salinas.
Greenfield will play again next on Wednesday, Dec. 17, when they host Pajaro Valley.
The Greenfield girls’ basketball team has played just one pre-season game so far, falling by a 55-8 score to Palma last Friday at home.
The Lady Bruins hosted Soledad on Monday, and will host the Everett Alvarez Eagles on Thursday in the Bruin gym.
