SALINAS VALLEY — Riding the wave of a nine-game winning streak, the Soledad High boys basketball team won the school’s third basketball title.
Last week the Aztecs avenged their only Cypress Division loss by beating the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs and then claiming the title game against North Salinas by a 64-51 tally, before ending the week with a 60-29 win against the visiting King City Mustangs on Senior Night.
This is the second boys basketball title under the guidance of Aztecs head coach Nick Twitchell.
“The boys were elated,” Twitchell said. “We had a good celebration in the visiting locker room and then we did a little Martinelli cider shower in the North Salinas parking lot. Finally, we were able to go eat dinner together after the game as a group. Really good memories that hopefully they’ll carry with them for a long time.”
At home against MVC last Monday, Pedro Morales led the Aztecs with 15 points, while Calvin DeShazo finished with 13 points and Ayden Urquidez just missed double figures with nine points. Jeronimo Morales added eight points, including a big three late in the game.
Pedro Morales had 11 3-point baskets en route to 37 points in the win over North Salinas. Urquidez added 13 points in the title-clinching game.
In the final regular season game at home against King City, Pedro Morales led Soledad with 19 points, Jeronimo Morales scored 11 points and Ben Caldera contributed with eight points.
The Aztecs finished the Cypress Division with a 13-1 record and were 17-7 overall.
King City won two games last week in the Cypress Division against Seaside (51-36) and Pacific Collegiate (44-23). Johell Carrillo led the Mustangs with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Fernando Camacho added 13 points and four rebounds, and Alexis Alvarado had 10 points, including two 3-point baskets.
On Friday, the Mustangs lost 60-29 to the host Soledad Aztecs. Camacho led King City with nine points and five assists and Roberto Mandujano had eight points and six rebounds.
The Mustangs were in fifth place in the Cypress with a 8-6 division record and were 13-10 overall.
Greenfield Bruins finished the season in sixth place in the Cypress Division with a 4-10 division record and were 8-16 overall.
The Bruins lost at home to Monte Vista Christian, 69-56. Johnny Miranda led Greenfield in scoring with 23 points and Omar Flores scored 12 points, and Guillermo Martinez finishing with 10 points.
Greenfield played its final division game at Seaside on Friday, winning by a 71-60 score. Miranda had 25 points, Flores scored 17 points, Kenny Pajas added 12 points and Nate Trujillo combined with Alex Avila for 12 points.
“This year was a learning curve for us,” said Bruins coach Mark Hadden. “We had a young inexperienced team that played hard all season long.”
Gonzales Spartans went on a three-game win streak to put themselves in position to earn a Central Coast Section (CCS) playoff spot with a .500 record.
Fernando De Leon and Joshua Mariscal scored 23 points and 15 points, respectively, in the Spartans’ 56-50 win over the Greenfield Bruins last Monday.
In the second game of the week, Gonzales defeated the Seaside Spartans, 55-33, at the Roger Fernando Gym on Wednesday.
Mariscal led Gonzales in scoring with 14 points, while Noah Rodriguez and Eduardo Barragon scored 10 points apiece. Fernando De Leon chipped in with nine points.
In the final regular season contest, the Spartans defeated host Pacific Collegiate, 54-35, on Friday. Mariscal, Barragan and De Leon all scored 15 points apiece for Gonzales.
“Waiting to see if we get a playoff spot,” said Spartans head coach Steve Bentley. “It’s looking pretty good but not guaranteed.”
Gonzales had a 12-12 overall record and were 8-6 in the Cypress Division, finishing in fourth place.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The King City girls basketball team finished in third place in the Cypress Division with a 11-3 record and were 16-8 overall.
In games last week, the Lady Mustangs won at Seaside, 68-3, edged the Pacific Collegiate Pumas, 37-34, at home, and completed the week with a 49-35 win over Marina.
In the Seaside contest, Alizah Carrillo had 16 points, Andrea Barroso scored 10 points and Katia Slama and Gizelle Huerta each had eight points for King City.
Carrillo set a school record for most 3-point baskets with 55 and led the team with 12 points in the Pacific Collegiate game. Crystal Paramo added 10 points and Mikayla McLane had nine points.
In the final regular season game with Marina, Carrillo scored 16 points and Paramo added 14 points.
King City will be seeded Wednesday in the CCS basketball playoffs.
The Soledad girls finished the Gabilan Division season with two wins and one loss last week. The Lady Aztecs lost 47-40 to Robert Louis Stevenson, claimed a 53-44 home win against Watsonville, and won last Friday in Monterey by a 53-32 score.
Atiana Landeros led the Aztec in scoring in the Watsonville game with 19 points and eight rebounds, and Jessica Morales added 10 points and 14 rebounds. Delylah Ocampo contributed with nine points and six rebounds.
“I told the girls our goal was to go 2-1 over the last week of league and we did a good job executing our goals,” said Soledad coach Kevin Pena. “Aliyah Velarde came alive this week. In the Monterey game, she had 19 points, Delylah Ocampo scored 12 points and so did Atiana Landeros. Jessica Morales has really stepped up on defense bringing huge rebounding numbers in the last two games. I’m proud of our group and we are getting ready for playoffs.”
Soledad finished fourth in Gabilan play at 6-8 and were 14-10 overall.
Gonzales went on a two-game win streak to start the week, beating Greenfield, 41-27, on Senior Night, and downing Seaside, 37-15.
In the game with the Bruins, Gonzales’ Priscilla Hurtado had a double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Camilla Ramirez had a double double of her own with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Maryanne Camarena had eight steals with a good defensive effort and Karyna Maturino added eight points for the Lady Spartans.
Gonzales finished the season with a 59-18 setback at home with Pacific Collegiate. Aalyse Martinez led the team with six points and Camarena was a pest on defense all night.
The Lady Spartans had a 2-11 record in the Cypress Division and were 2-23 overall.
Greenfield followed the loss to Gonzales with a two-point setback against Pajaro Valley (42-40). Marilyn Ojeda led the Bruins with eight points and 10 boards and Cristina Donato added seven points.
The Lady Bruins (4-9 in the Cypress, 5-16 overall) beat the Seaside Spartans in their final regular season game, 34-15. Amanda Castro led the Greenfield scorers with 17 points and seven rebounds.
