Since Pajaro Valley first opened its doors in 2004, the school’s basketball teams have only experienced moderate success.
Before this winter, the two programs had combined for only three winning seasons and seven playoff appearances.
Christian Quintero and Jayleen Solorzano changed all of that.
The high-scoring guards led their respective teams to new heights this season, and they hit plenty of personal pinnacles, too.
Quintero carried the boys’ team to its first-ever Central Coast Section quarterfinals berth, and also earned league M.V.P. honors. Solorzano, meanwhile, powered the girls’ squad to its first-ever winning season and league championship, while also being named the M.V.P. in her respective league.
Today, the Pajaronian is adding another achievement to each of their stellar 2018-19 seasons. This newspaper is naming Quintero our Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year, and selecting Solorzano as our Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.
Quintero, a 6-foot-1 junior, was an offensive force with the ball, and also pillaged opposing players on the defensive end with his quick hands and anticipation. Added strength as a result of extra work in the summer helped the third-year varsity player drive into the paint and absorb contact on offense. The newly-acquired bulk also made him a sturdy defender in the post against big men.
According to statistics on MaxPreps, Quintero was second in the CCS in points per game (24.7) and finished third in the section in total points (618). He also surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his high school career this winter — he’s on pace to eclipse 2,000 points next year — and averaged 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.8 assists per contest.
Quintero flashed his scoring prowess in the second game of the season by pouring in 40 points on 22 shots against San Lorenzo Valley. It was a sign of things to come, as he finished the year with seven games in which he scored at least 30 points.
The most notable offensive explosion: a 46-point performance on the road against Mills in the CCS Division III playoffs.
Pajaro Valley finished the year 17-10, and placed second in the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress division. Despite the runner-up finish in the Cypress, Quintero was named the division’s M.V.P. after averaging 24.6 points per league game on 43.4 percent shooting from the field.
Solorzano was the consensus M.V.P. of the PCAL’s Santa Lucia division following a dominant tear through league play. The lightning-quick 5-foot-2 scoring machine averaged 26.5 points over 10 league games, as the Grizzlies breezed their way to double-digit wins in every contest and won the program’s first league championship with a perfect record.
Solorzano led the state in points per game (28.8) — she was 20th in the nation — and she also stuffed the stat sheet with 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 steals per game. She finished her senior year with at least 10 double-doubles, and set the program record for most points in a single season (742).
As a team, Pajaro Valley broke the program record for most wins in a single season, as Solorzano paced the Grizzlies to 21-5 record — the team’s first winning campaign.
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BOYS’ TOP HONORS
Offensive Player of the year
Jarrod Garcia (Sr.)
School >> Ceiba
Position >> Guard
The lowdown >> The Spartans struggled this season, but Garcia was still able to shine. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 24.6 points per game, and scored more than 30 points on three occasions.
Defensive Player of the year
Hunter Matys (Sr.)
School >> Aptos
Position >> Forward
The lowdown >> The 6-foot-1 wing was a lockdown defender for the Mariners, averaging a team-high in steals (2.2) and blocks (1.0) per game this winter.
Coach of the year
Brian Bowyer
School >> Aptos
Year >> First year
The lowdown >> Bowyer made many tweaks to the Mariners’ approach in his first season, and the changes paid off in an SCCAL title and a CCS championship game berth.
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GIRLS’ TOP HONORS
Offensive Player of the year
Janessa Yniguez (Sr.)
School >> St. Francis
Position >> Guard
The lowdown >> The 5-foot-2 guard was the heartbeat of the Sharks’ offense, leading the team in points per game (17.4) and helping the program win its first league championship since the 2010-11 season.
Defensive Player of the year
Natalia Ackerman (Jr.)
School >> Aptos
Position >> Forward
The lowdown >> The uber-athletic 6-foot-1 forward averaged 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 1.9 blocks per game this season — all team-highs. Her 56 blocks were seventh-most in the CCS.
Coach of the year
Lupe Quintero
School >> Pajaro Valley
Year >> Second year
The lowdown >> Quintero brought the best out of the Grizzlies, guiding the team to the program’s first winning season and league championship.
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All-Pajaronian boys’ team
GUARDS
Jarrod Garcia (Sr.)
School >> Ceiba
Averages >> 24.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.5 apg & 3.3 spg
Andrew Seymour (Sr.)
School >> St. Francis
Averages >> 13.5 ppg, 5.1 spg, 4.6 rpg & 2.8 apg
WINGS
Christian Quintero (Jr.)
School >> Pajaro Valley
Averages >> 24.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.2 spg & 2.8 apg
Max Pepperdine (Sr.)
School >> Aptos
Averages >> 14 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.5 apg & 1.8 spg
BIG
Hunter Matys (Sr.)
School >> Aptos
Averages >> 8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 spg, 2.0 apg & 1 bpg
BENCH
>> Dulian Morelos (Sr.), N.M.C.
>> E.J. Kelly (Sr.), St. Francis
>> Logan Feldbrugge (Sr.), Aptos
•••
All-Pajaronian girls’ team
GUARDS
Jayleen Solorzano (Sr.)
School >> Pajaro Valley
Averages >> 28.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.4 spg
Janessa Yniguez (Sr.)
School >> St. Francis
Averages >> 17.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 spg
WINGS
Gabby Giuffre (Jr.)
School >> Aptos
Averages >> 13.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 spg
Madison Hill (Jr.)
School >> M.V.C.
Averages >> 9.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 spg
BIG
Natalia Ackerman (Jr.)
School >> Aptos
Averages >> 16.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.8 spg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 bpg
BENCH
>> Mackenzie Tellez (So.), M.V.C.
>> Fenesia Braga (Sr.), Ceiba
>> Hannah Hocom (Sr.), Aptos
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Editor’s Note: This article will publish in the March 22 edition of the Pajaronian.
