St. Francis senior Jacob Jimenez put up a game-best 22 points as the Sharks cruised to a 79-37 victory over North Monterey County in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play Tuesday evening.
Jimenez knocked in a pair of 3-pointers and was perfect from the free-throw line, making all four of his attempts. Teammate senior Robert Gomez Jr. drained six treys to give him 20 points, while junior Isiah Villalobos contributed 11 points.
Senior Gabriel Santos and Jevon Burns each finished with six points for St. Francis, which improved to 3-2 in Mission Division play this season.
“I think we’re a little bit behind last year’s team, but we’re getting to that point where these guys are starting to figure it out,” St. Francis head coach Robert Gomez. “We’ve been playing a lot better lately.”
They were coming off a disappointing 63-58 loss to Rancho San Juan in Mission Division action Jan. 16, which also snapped a two-game win streak for the Sharks.
“In this [Mission Division], there’s no nights off, and I think that’s what we’re adjusting to,” Gomez said. “We’re really harping on the guys. If we go hard 99 percent of the time, I think we’re fine. It’s just getting that constancy of playing hard every single minute of every game.”
St. Francis is in a tight race for the Mission Division title alongside Alvarez (4-2), Marina (4-1), Hollister (3-2) and Rancho San Juan (3-2).
Gomez added that Stevenson, which currently owns a 1-4 record in league play, is no pushover, either.
“Everybody in that league is pretty good,” he said. “If you just don’t bring it in this league against anybody, you’ll lose to anybody.”
St. Francis played Hollister on Thursday evening. Game results were not available prior to this publication’s deadline.
Gomez Jr. has an average of 17.6 points per game and has made 43 3-pointers in 14 games played, according to statistics on the Monterey Bay Preps website.
Villalobos has an average of 16.9 points per contest with 40 shots made from beyond the arc, while Jimenez is scoring an average of 15.6 points per game.
“Those guys have done a good job of carrying over that work ethic to the younger guys, you know what it takes to win a championship,” Gomez said. “They started off the season really hot and scoring, and they kind of play off of each other.”
St. Francis (8-8, 3-2), which plays at Alvarez in PCAL Mission Division action on Jan. 28 at 7pm.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Gomez said.
At Monte Vista Christian 101, Greenfield 66: A trio of Mustangs each finished with 20-plus points in a crushing win over the Bruins in PCAL Cypress Division play Tuesday evening.
Jeremy Silver recorded a game-best 27 points, including seven 3-pointers. Matteo Vidal and Go Kamishita each finished with 20 points for MVC, which improved to 5-1 in league play this season.
Teammate Gabriel White contributed 10 points, while Jerry Arceo Jr. added eight points for MVC (12-4, 5-1), which plays at North Salinas (11-5, 4-2) on Thursday at 7pm.
Girls’ basketball
Scotts Valley 42, at Aptos 23: Sophomore Isa Alvarez scored a team-best 12 points in the Mariners’ loss to the Falcons in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play Tuesday evening.
Junior Eliyah Chavez contributed four points for Aptos (9-9, 2-2), which hosts San Lorenzo Valley (5-8, 1-3) on Saturday at 11:30am.
Pajaro Valley 39, at Greenfield 27: Senior Monique Ayala finished with a game-best 17 points in the Grizzlies’ win over the Bruins in PCAL Cypress Division play Tuesday evening.
Teammate sophomore Elizabeth Zamora had 13 points, while senior Olivia Contreras added seven points for Pajaro Valley (7-6, 3-1), which hosts North Salinas on Thursday at 7pm.
At Pajaro Valley 45, Presentation 41: Senior Olivia Contreras had 14 points in the Grizzlies’ win over the Panthers in non-league play Monday evening.
Teammate senior Monique Ayala added 12 points, while sophomore Elizabeth Zamora finished with 11 points for Pajaro Valley.
At Watsonville 45, Soledad 30: Senior Leilani Yasin recorded a triple-double in the Wildcatz’s victory against the Aztecs in PCAL Gabilan Division play Tuesday evening.
Yasin finished with a career-best 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks, while teammate Liliana Ramirez added six points and nine rebounds.
Stephanie Martinez contributed seven points and four steals for Watsonville (8-8, 3-3), which plays at Stevenson (8-8, 2-4) on Thursday at 7pm.
At Alisal 52, Watsonville 43: Senior Leilani Yasin set a school record with 29 rebounds in the ‘Catz’s loss to the Trojans in PCAL Gabilan Division play Jan. 16.
Yasin added 12 points and four blocks, while teammate Stephanie Martinez finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Men’s basketball
At Cabrillo 105, Gavilan 65: Charlie Kosta finished with a team-best 16 points in the Seahawks’ blowout win over the Rams in Coast Conference South Division play Jan. 16.
Teammate Malik Jefferson had 15 points and seven rebounds, while Damani Wilkerson added 11 points, three assists and three steals.
Mike Carson recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Seahawks, winners of four straight and unbeaten at 3-0 in conference play.
Next up, Cabrillo (14-6, 3-1) hosts West Valley (14-5, 3-1) on Friday at 7pm.
Boys’ soccer
Aptos off to hot start in SCCAL play: Aptos remains undefeated in league play following a 2-0 victory against Soquel in SCCAL action Wednesday night.
David Sebastian Kilpatrick gave the Mariners the lead with a goal in the 29th minute. Ivan Zavala was credited with the assist.
In the 56th, Zavala scored off a corner kick that was assisted by Nicolas Topete.
Aptos head coach Roberto Zúñiga said Kilpatrick, Daniel Lozano, Benji Maciel, and Isaiah Acevedo continued to be a strong force on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Herberth Santiago-Toledo had four saves for the Mariners, who improved to 2-0-1 in league play.
“Our team continues to make progress on the offensive side and we look forward to seeing more goals in the upcoming games,” Zúñiga said.
Zavala, Topete and Noah Salik each recorded one goal in the Mariners’ 3-0 victory over San Lorenzo Valley in SCCAL play Jan. 16.
Damian Garcia and Topete each were credited with one assist for Aptos (8-2-1, 2-0-1), which hosts Scotts Valley in league play Friday at 7pm.
Watsonville 1, Pajaro Valley 0: Jesus Contreras-Barboza’s goal was the difference in the Wildcatz’s shutout win against the cross-town rival Grizzlies in PCAL Mission Division play Jan. 16.
Teammate Diego Guillen was credited with the pass assist to Contreras-Barboza. Goalkeeper Adrian Fernandez recorded five saves for the ‘Catz, who improved to 5-0 in league play this season.
Watsonville (10-1-1, 5-0-0) plays at Stevenson (1-9-2, 0-5-0) on Thursday at 3:30pm.
Pajaro Valley (3-8-2, 1-4-0) hosts Seaside (3-9-1, 1-3-1) also on Thursday at 3pm.
Girls’ soccer
Aptos 6, at Soquel 0: Senior Isabella Hartnett recorded three goals in Aptos’ 6-0 crushing win over Soquel in SCCAL play Tuesday evening.
Hartnett scored on assists from Aubrie Ford and twice from Alexa Castañeda.
Ford and Castañeda each added one goal, while teammate Kate Deteso scored on an assist from Madison Redding.
Goalkeeper Tayanna Bonilla recorded a pair of saves for the Mariners, who improved to a 3-0 record in SCCAL play this season.
Aptos (7-4-1, 3-0) hosts Scotts Valley (2-6-3, 1-1-1) on Thursday at 7pm.
At Gonzales 2, St. Francis 1: Senior Peyton Orradre had one goal in the Sharks’ loss to the Spartans in PCAL Cypress Division play Wednesday evening.
Teammate Micaela Garcia was credited with the assist, while senior goalkeeper Madison Silva finished with nine saves for St. Francis (1-6-2, 0-2-2), which plays at North Salinas (4-6-1, 2-1-1) on Friday at 5:45pm.
