After pushing through a tough week of class finals, Monte Vista Christian senior Rhazelle Gonzales still had one more test to go before heading into the holiday break.
The Mustangs girls’ basketball team capped off their preseason portion of the schedule in a battle tested 44-38 loss to The Kings Academy in non-league action Dec. 21.
“We definitely wanted to leave it all on the court. We apply that idea every time but I think today it really showed,” Gonzales said. “We knew at the end we had to stick together. That’s the foundation of our team, just sticking together.”
MVC first-year head coach Zach Nelson said TKA—a Central Coast Section Division IV semifinalist in 2022-23—was good competition for them before the break and going into league play that begins in January.
“I think we fought hard. We did some little things I think we can get better at like taking care of the ball and just finishing around the basket, but that was a good positive loss or experience for some of these girls,” Nelson said.
The Mustangs are scoring an average of 43 points per game, so putting up 38 in Thursday night’s game against TKA is not where Nelson would like it to be.
“We got to find other ways to score and other players got to step up,” Nelson said.
Nelson also emphasizes on winning the rebounding battle every night because it’s the one aspect of the game they can control. He said this year’s team does a great job of getting to the boards but there’s plenty of room for improvement in that area.
Nelson said there is a willingness to learn from the players and they chase improvement everyday. He mentioned how it’s been a blessing to have this particular group because of their work ethic and an attempt to rebuild the program the way he envisions it.
In 2022-23, the Mustangs finished with a 9-14 overall record and placed fourth in the Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division with a 4-6 record in league play.
After losing seven seniors from last year’s group, MVC has just four returning varsity players along with a group of newcomers in senior Julia Guerra, junior Amya Tellez, sophomores Samantha Bertoldi and Sofia Calomeni and freshman Emily Madison.
“It’s a relatively new crew, but luckily we’re all friends,” Gonzales said. “No doubt chemistry is there.”
Returners include senior Makayla Rader, a skilled rebounder that should give the Mustangs plenty of second chance opportunities; and juniors Sophia Cortes and Gia Herrera—a dual scoring threat that can light up the scoreboard.
Nelson said Gonzales leads the team in a lot of ways both on and off the court.
Being able to see Gonzales take command of the game is important for Nelson, especially how active she is on the defensive end.
“[Gonzales is] just a good leader, a good ball player,” Nelson said. “I wish I had her one more year but hopefully we can end her senior experience with a CCS [playoff] win.”
The main goal for Gonzales is earning a CCS playoff bid but they also want to hang another league championship banner in the gym for the first time since winning the Gabilan Division crown in the now-defunct Monterey Bay League.
“If we can just be consistent and play game by game, I truly believe in my team, especially the young ones,” Gonzales said. “They’re working towards what they want, and they’re showing up.”
For Nelson, the struggle is getting more kids involved in the program. MVC currently has 16 players on two teams—varsity and junior varsity. His goal is pushing that number up into the 25 range and getting a freshman team up and running, as well.
“Just consistency and just getting more kids involved in the sport of basketball but I think that’s more of an area problem right now,” Nelson said.
MVC isn’t the only school dealing with a shortage of kids interested in playing. Nelson has been talking to other coaches and getting more students excited about girls basketball is tough.
“[I’m] trying to make the school have that fun, exciting brand of basketball that more kids want to be a part of and be a part of that culture in that community,” Nelson said. “That’s my biggest challenge, but I’m willing to accept it and try to rebuild that.”
As a player, the 29-year old Missouri native won a state championship at Rockhurst High in Kansas City in 2013. Nelson continued his playing career at Westminster College of Missouri and made two NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.
Nelson returned to his alma mater at Rockhurst as an assistant coach for four years and an assistant coach at Jesuit High in Sacramento for the past two years.
“I’ve been a part of this winning culture and I’m trying to bring it down here,” he said. “I think I got the style, all the characteristics to make this program the way I think it can be.”
Nelson admits the Mustangs are not where he would like them to be. But as long as players continue to chase improvement and know what the goal is for this season, they’ll just take each game and practice with a little bit of humility to know they can always improve.
Nelson said the PCAL Mission Division is wide open and MVC can be contenders with the top half, perhaps a bit better.
Nelson believes playing preseason games against some of the top teams such as The Kings Academy is a great way to get them prepared for league play.
“No one gets a non-conference league championship,” Nelson said. “Our goal is to win league first and once we win league, everything else is gravy. That’s step number one.”
The PCAL Mission Division features Cypress Division champion Greenfield (7-2) and Santa Lucia Division champion Rancho San Juan (6-4).
Others chasing a league title include Carmel (1-7), Seaside (2-5), Soledad (4-3) and Stevenson (2-5).
Gonzales said there’s no mystery the Mustangs will be contested by several strong and aggressive teams with players that have a high IQ for the game.
“We definitely have to put up a fight in a couple of games but I think a couple of them are great matchups,” she said. “And honestly, I’m really excited to play them and just finish out my last year strong, make some memories with my team and make history.”
MVC will host Carmel in the teams’ PCAL Mission Division opener on Jan. 2 at 7pm.
