Aptos High’s Ivan Zavala recorded a pair of goals as the boys’ soccer team defeated Soquel, 2-0, in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action Wednesday night.
Teammates Josiah Siqueiros and Haziel Parra each were credited with one assist for the Mariners, who placed second with a 7-1-2 record in the final league standings.
“I’m very proud of this group of players,” Aptos head coach Roberto Zúñiga said. “They have been working hard all season. Their resilience to come from behind and dig deep to turn the score around versus Santa Cruz after trailing by two goals, has been impressive.”
Aptos capped off the 2025-26 winter campaign on a five game win streak, including a stunning 1-0 victory over SCCAL rival Harbor on Feb. 13.
Siqueiros scored the match’s lone goal that was assisted by midfielder Nicolas Topete in the 52nd minute .
Topete found Siqueiros via a through ball that slipped past two Harbor defenders.
Siqueiros drove up the field to the right side to force Harbor’s goalkeeper to shift left, and then shot the ball to the opposite side to put it in the back of the net.
Zúñiga said visiting Mariner fans in the grandstands went wild as players celebrated with their teammates like there was no tomorrow.
“Our team stuck to our game plan, and worked together to press their defense and attack their offense as they made their way upfield,” Zúñiga said.
Santiago-Toledo tallied four saves in the shutout win while spoiling Harbor’s run at a perfect season, dropping to 9-1 in SCCAL play.
“Harbor came out and played strong,” Zúñiga said. “We were simply the better team tonight and capitalized when it counted.”
Aptos (13-2-3, 7-1-2) will now await for Thursday’s Central Coast Section seeding meeting to determine matchups for the postseason. The quarterfinals are set to begin Saturday at a time to be determined.
At Monte Vista Christian 1, Ceiba 1: Johnny Finney scored the Mustangs’ lone goal in a draw against the Spartans in PCAL Cypress Division play Feb. 13.
Teammate Harrison Malech was credited with one assist for MVC, which placed fourth with a 5-4-3 record in the Cypress Division standings for the 2025-26 winter campaign.
Pajaro Valley 4, at Seaside 2: The Grizzlies had four different scorers in a victory over the Spartans in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play Feb. 13.
Abraham Tirado, Damian Martinez, Emilio Melgoza and Juan Anaya each recorded one goal for Pajaro Valley.
Teammate Lisandro Velasquez was credited with a pair of assists for the Grizzlies, while Jesus Segura and Martinez each had one assist.
Pajaro Valley (5-13-2) placed fifth with a 3-9 record in the Mission Division standings for the 2025-26 winter campaign.
At Watsonville 4, Stevenson 0: The Wildcatz had four different scorers in a victory over the Pirates in PCAL Mission Division play Feb. 13.
Elisco Mora, Diego Guillen, Damian Moreno and Jesus Contreras-Barboza each finished with one goal for Mission Division champion Watsonville.
Guillen also tallied three assists, while Moreno added one assist for the ‘Catz—who improved to 11-0-1 in league play this season.
Watsonville (16-1-2, 11-0-1) will now await for Thursday’s CCS seeding meeting to determine matchups for the postseason. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday at a time to be determined.
Boys basketball
No. 1 Soquel 54, No. 3 Aptos 32: Levi Race finished with a team-best 16 points in the Mariners’ loss to the Knights in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Feb. 14.
Teammate Zane Matlow added four points, while Caden Bogle and Diego Mejia each contributed three points.
Aptos (13-14, 7-3) will host Pajaro Valley (10-10, 10-2) in the CCS D-III play-in game Friday at 7pm.
At MVC 86, North Salinas 71: Senior guard Jeremy Silver finished with a game-best 23 points in the Mustangs’ win over the Vikings in PCAL Cypress Division play Feb. 13.
Silver added six assists and four rebounds, while teammate Matteo Vidal had 22 points and four rebounds.
Go Kamishita recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 assists to go along with seven rebounds for the Mustangs, who improved to 11-3 in league play this season.
Cypress Division runner-up MVC (18-6, 11-3) earned the No. 9 seed in the CCS D-IV playoffs.
They will host San Jose (7-17, 7-5)—fourth place finishers in the Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division—on Friday at 7pm.
At Pajaro Valley 60, York 43: Alan Cervantez posted a game-best 20 points in the Grizzlies’ decisive win over the Falcons in PCAL Santa Lucia Division play Feb. 12.
Teammates Adrian Valdez and Fidel Rocha each added 10 points, while Juanito Montel contributed eight points.
Pajaro Valley (10-10) finished runner-up with a 10-2 record in the Santa Lucia Division standings for the 2025-26 winter season.
They will play at No. 9 Aptos in the CCS D-III play-in game Friday at 7pm.
St. Francis, Watsonville earn CCS berths: St. Francis and Watsonville will get a chance to extend their winter season after clinching CCS playoff berths Wednesday.
Watsonville earned the No. 9 seed in the CCS D-I playoffs, and will host Independence of San Jose on Friday at 7pm.
Watsonville (11-13) placed sixth with a 6-8 record in the PCAL Gabilan Division standings.
Independence (14-10) was runner-up with an 8-2 record in the BVAL Santa Teresa North Division standings.
St. Francis earned the No. 8 seed in the CCS D-V playoffs, and a bye until the second round on Saturday evening at 7pm.
They will host the winner of Friday night’s opener between No. 9 More and North Valley Baptist.
St. Francis (13-10, 8-4) placed tied for third with Alvarez with an 8-4 record in the PCAL Mission Division standings this season.
Girls basketball
No. 1 Scotts Valley 60, No. 3 Aptos 25: Sophomore guard Isa Alvarez finished with a team-best 15 points in the Mariners’ loss to the Falcons in the SCCAL Tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Feb. 14.
Teammate Eliyah Chavez added five points for Aptos (15-12, 6-4), which earned the No. 5 seed in the CCS D-III playoffs and a bye until the second round on Saturday.
The Mariners will host the winner of Friday’s opener between No. 12 Pajaro Valley and King City. Tipoff is slated for 7pm.
Local teams earn CCS postseason berths: Pajaro Valley, St. Francis and Watsonville each will begin their CCS playoff runs this upcoming weekend.
PCAL Cypress Division co-champion Pajaro Valley (16-7, 12-2) earned the No. 12 seed, and will host division rival King City (16-8, 11-3) in a play-in game Friday at 7pm.
St. Francis (12-11, 7-5) earned the No. 6 seed in the D-V playoffs, and a bye until the second round on Saturday evening.
They play the winner of Friday’s opener between No. 11 Santa Catalina and Cristo Rey of San Jose.
St. Francis placed third with a 7-5 record in the PCAL Mission Division standings.
Watsonville (11-13, 6-8) clawed its way into the D-I playoffs, and will play at No. 12 Evergreen Valley in a play-in game Friday at 7pm.
The winner will play at No. 5 Salinas (18-6, 11-2) on Saturday at 7pm.
Watsonville placed tied for fourth with a 6-8 record in the PCAL Gabilan Division standings.
