Aptos senior Nick Tovani had a team-best 20 points for the Mariners boys’ basketball team in their 71-56 loss to Bellarmine in the 76th Annual Carmel Invitational on Dec. 21.
Fellow teammate Isaiah Ackerman contributed 12 points, while Ryan Solorio had 10 points for Aptos, which dropped to a 6-3 overall record this season.
The Mariners play Pioneer of San Jose in the 11th Annual Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors Tournament at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz on Thursday at 9am.
Monte Vista Christian 65, St. Francis 61: Nico Downie had 22 points, eight assists and four rebounds for the Mustangs in their win against the Sharks in non-league play Dec. 20.
Mateo Vidal had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists for MVC (6-3), which begins Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play at home against Rancho San Juan on Jan. 9 at 7pm.
St. Francis 84, Pajaro Valley 63: Nash Horton finished with a team-best 29 points for the Sharks in their victory over the Grizzlies in non-league action Monday.
Teammate Robert Gomez had 24 points, while Jacob Jimenez contributed 18 points for St. Francis (7-2), which hosts Scotts Valley on Dec. 27 at 5pm.
Carlos Escobar had 27 points for Pajaro Valley, and teammate Anthony Aguirre added 18 points.
The Grizzlies (1-7) begins PCAL Santa Lucia Division play at Kirby Prep on Jan. 7 at 7pm.
Girls basketball
Aptos 56, Mt. Pleasant 21: Senior guard Berkeley Ashby had a game-best 16 points for the Mariners in their win over the Cardinals in non-league play Dec. 20.
She also had seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while teammate Abby Sherwood had 12 rebounds and seven points.
With the win, the Mariners improved to 7-1 and it was the largest margin of victory for them this season.
Sophomore Eliya Chavez contributed 13 points, two blocks and a pair of steals. Erika Snook had 6 points off the bench for Aptos, which is hosting the 11th Annual Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors Tournament at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz on Dec. 26-28.
The Mariners play Half Moon Bay on Thursday at 8pm.
St. Francis 46, San Lorenzo Valley 16: Junior guard Natalie Stott had a game-best 19 points, including three 3-pointers and three steals for the Sharks in their victory over the Cougars in non-league play Dec. 18.
Sophomore guard Maya Calfee had 12 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, five steals and three assists for St. Francis, which improved to 5-0 this season.
Fellow teammate freshman Guard Liliana Whitmeyer had 11 points, four blocks, 12 steals and three assists, while sophomore guard Sophie Madrigal contributed four points, two steals and grabbed two rebounds.
St. Francis hosts Alisal in the upcoming Lady Shark Shootout Tournament on Friday at 4:30pm.
Girls soccer
Los Gatos 3, Aptos 1: Isabella Hartnett notched one goal for the Mariners in their loss to the Wildcats in non-league action Dec. 19.
Aptos got on the scoreboard in the 69th minute when Hartnett found the loose ball off a rebound from a defender, and buried her shot into the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Evelyn Pini made eight saves for the Mariners (2-2), who host Mountain View on Dec. 31 at 10am.
Hollister 2, Aptos 1: Isabella Hartnett had the lone goal for the Mariners in their loss to the Haybalers in non-league action Dec. 16.
Gigi Zuniga was credited with the assist to Hartnett, who scored in the 78th minute. Goalkeeper Evelyn Pini had two saves for Aptos.
NBA G League
Santa Cruz 112, Windy City 107: Forward Kevin Knox II and two-way center Quinten Post led the Warriors with 17 points apiece in their win over the Bulls in the teams’ NBA G League Winter Showcase finale at the Orange County Convention Center on Dec. 21.
Post added 11 rebounds to secure his fifth double-double of the season. Two-way guard Pat Spencer notched another 16-point performance and contributed an additional nine rebounds and eight assists in his third game with Santa Cruz.
Forward Black Hinson came off the bench to log 16 points, while forward Jackson Rowe rounded out the Warriors’ offense with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Santa Cruz Warriors will tip off the regular season on the road with a back-to-back series against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Friday and Saturday. Both games are slated to tip off at 5pm.
This article provides a thoughtful reflection on the Mariners boys’ basketball team’s performance in the Carmel Invitational, capturing both their challenges and achievements throughout the tournament. While falling short in the title game to a strong Bellarmine team is disappointing, it’s clear from the coverage that the Mariners showed resilience and skill throughout the event. The team’s determination and the progress they’ve made are highlighted, which serves as a reminder that each game is an opportunity for growth. It’s exciting to see how they will continue to develop as the season progresses—thank you for sharing this insightful sports roundup!