WATSONVILLE — The St. Francis High Sharks have a chance to make more history.
They had to withstand Aptos High’s best punch to earn the opportunity.
Senior forward Jason Gallo had 18 points, fellow senior forward Chase Watkins added 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and St. Francis outlasted Aptos 56-53 on senior night to set up a pivotal Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League showdown with Santa Cruz High on Tuesday night.
St. Francis (18-3, 10-1) will travel to Santa Cruz on Friday night for a game that will determine the league champion. The meeting is set for a 7 p.m. tip.
Despite graduating all but three players from last year’s league, section and regional champion team, the Sharks have a shot of returning to the top of the SCCAL after winning their 24th straight game at home dating back to last season.
“At the beginning of the year we had so many unknowns, we weren’t sure where we were going to end up, so we’re fortunate,” said St. Francis head coach Ed Kelly. “We’re back in a game that means something. We’ve been talking to the kids in the second half of league about how lucky they are to play in games that mean something. (We tell them to) enjoy it, have fun with it. A lot of guys don’t get to play in these meaningful games.”
St. Francis led by five heading into the fourth, but Aptos (16-8, 8-4) kept it close until the final buzzer.
Aptos senior guard Rashaun Wooden sunk a pair from the charity stripe with a little less than a minute left to make it 54-53, but Watkins answered by swishing two free throws to give St. Francis a three-point cushion with 16.3 seconds to go.
The Mariners had three looks at the game-tying bucket on their final possession, but could not find the bottom of the net and their upset bid fell short.
FINAL: St. Francis 56, Aptos 53.
Aptos gets 3 looks at the game-tying bucket end of the game but St. Francis holds on. #RPsports pic.twitter.com/GrbkeTO9ZY
— Tony Nunez (@Tony_Nunez) February 7, 2018
“I’m pretty sure that was the best defensive game I’ve ever seen us play,” said Aptos senior center Blake Welle. “I think it comes down to missed free throws, maybe a couple of defensive slip-ups, little things that could’ve tilted the game one way or the other.”
Welle hit four 3-pointers and led the Mariners with 21 points, but sat on the bench for the final possession after fouling out seconds prior. Wooden added 19 points and senior forward Joe Mendoza chipped in seven.
Aptos was without two starters in junior point guard Max Pepperdine and senior wing Forrest Hays, and a key reserve player because of injury. Welle also played through an ankle injury in the second half. He finished the game with a bag of ice wrapped around his foot, but said he’d be fine for the upcoming postseason.
Blake Welle in on the action now with a 3-pointer. Aptos down by 2 with 3 minutes left. #RPsports pic.twitter.com/ZqLenXHotG
— Tony Nunez (@Tony_Nunez) February 7, 2018
Even without those three, Aptos hung tough behind its defense as it has throughout a season hamstrung by injuries.
“It was a challenge, but we all compete. We all play our role and that’s what makes us a good team,” Welle said. “It doesn’t matter who’s in. We’re always playing team basketball.”
The game was tied 15-all at the end of the first quarter, but St. Francis took a 31-26 lead into the break.
Gallo poured in nine points in the third quarter, and Watkins finished the deal with 12 in the fourth, including the Sharks’ final five points.
Chase Watkins puts SF up 54-51 with 54.3 seconds left. #RPsports pic.twitter.com/0i2T16XbH8
— Tony Nunez (@Tony_Nunez) February 7, 2018
“You got to give Aptos credit,” Gallo said. “They always come out with intensity, and they always match us. It’s always a rivalry game. We always want to beat each other. I’m just happy that we won, and I’m happy that they showed up so we could play an exciting game for the fans.”
Andrew Seymour notched 10 points, but no other Shark scored more than three.
Yet, St. Francis’ backups proved big in key moments, as junior forward Jake Taylor converted a crucial three-point play before the start of the fourth, and the rest played tough defense.
“Obviously we relied on our two big guns…but they’ve all really grown a lot this year,” Kelly said of his reserves, whom have helped St. Francis win its last nine. “We got some minutes from a lot of guys.”
It also doesn’t hurt to have Gallo and Watkins playing at their best in crunch time.
“They’re the co-M.V.P.s,” Kelly said. “I’m biased, but I think they’re the two best players in the league and they’ve shown it for a long time.”
