This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Feb. 5-11.
Preps of the Week
Boys: St. Francis High senior Sam Braun had back-to-back monster games for the Sharks boys’ basketball team. He finished with 24 points, including four 3-pointers, to go along with three rebounds and two steals against North Monterey County High on Feb. 7. Two days later, Braun followed up with a team-best 26 points, including four more 3-pointers, and a pair of rebounds for the Sharks.
Girls: Aptos High sophomore Abby Sherwood had a huge fourth quarter by draining a pair of key 3-pointers and had several blocked shots to help the Mariners girls’ basketball team stun Santa Cruz High, 46-36, in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Tournament championship on Feb. 10. She finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and seven blocked shots. Sherwood was also instrumental in their 62-53 overtime win against Scotts Valley in the semifinals Feb. 8.
Rising Stars
- Aptos High sophomore Alexa Castañeda and freshman Isabella Hartnett each notched a pair of goals for the Mariners in a 4-1 Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League win over Santa Cruz on Feb. 6. Hartnett leads the team with 13 goals, while Castañeda has 10 goals and 11 assists this season.
- Monte Vista Christian seniors Jack Ryan finished with a team-best 19 points and Angel Martinez recorded a double-double—15 points and 10 rebounds—for the Mustangs boys’ basketball team in their win over the Aztecs in PCAL Mission Division action on Feb. 8. Ryan has an average of 10.9 points per game, while Martinez has been an all-around player on the court this season.
- Watsonville High senior Isabella Love tied the school record with five 3-pointers and had 17 points for the Wildcatz girls’ basketball team in their PCAL Gabilan Division win over Alvarez on Feb. 8. Fellow teammate junior Fernanda Lazo added nine points and six rebounds for Watsonville. Both were instrumental in getting Watsonville into the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Games to Watch
- CCS Masters Meet, boys and girls wrestling, Saturday at 9am: A group of the best wrestlers in the section will gather at Watsonville High for the Central Coast Section Masters Meet to determine who advances into the CIF State Championships in Bakersfield.
- Monte Vista Christian vs. San Jose, boys basketball, Friday at 7pm: The No. 11 seed Mustangs (17-7) will host Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division runner-up Bulldogs (12-12) in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs.
- Aptos vs. Serra, boys soccer, Saturday at 11am: The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League champion and No. 4 seed Mariners will host the No. 5 Padres (6-3-5) out of the West Catholic Athletic League in the opening round of the CCS Division II playoffs. Make sure to bring an umbrella because there’s a 70% chance it could rain.
Editor’s note: Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and highlights to jr****@pa********.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes (@jmreyes831) on Twitter for scores and news updates.
