This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Dec. 26-31.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and stats to jr****@pa********.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes on Twitter @jmreyes831 for score and news updates.
Preps of the Week
- Boys: Pajaro Valley High sophomore Angel Rodriguez had seven saves and recorded the shutout for the Grizzlies boys’ soccer team in a 2-0 win over Aptos High in non-league play Dec. 29. Rodriguez also had a pair of saves Dec. 28 in a 2-2 draw against Palma. The Grizzlies (5-0-3) will begin Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division play at Monte Vista Christian on Friday at 5:45pm.
- Girls: Aptos High Sophomore forward Berkeley Ashby scored the final four points for the Mariners girls’ basketball team including an inside jumper with 40 seconds left to play in a 36-34 win over Soquel High in the Santa Cruz Warriors/Aptos High NorCal Invitational on Dec. 29. Ashby also contributed eight rebounds and a pair of steals for Aptos (3-10), which begins Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play at Soquel on Tuesday at 6pm.
Rising Stars
- Aptos High junior guard Guin Lines had a team-high 13 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists for the Mariners girls’ basketball team in a 36-34 win over Soquel High on Dec. 29. Junior guard Laurel Southall contributed 12 points and five rebounds for Aptos.
- Pajaro Valley High sophomore Mario Rocha and senior Johan Vazquez each scored one goal in the second half for the Grizzlies boys’ soccer team in a 2-0 win over Aptos High in non-league action Dec. 29.
- St. Francis High junior guard Junior Ibarra scored a team-high 17 points for the Sharks boys’ basketball team in a 44-41 loss to Harbor on Dec. 30. Senior forward Diego Rameriz scored nine points and senior center Aiden Andrade added six points for St Francis (4-5), which begins PCAL Cypress Division play against Rancho San Juan on Wednesday at 7pm.
Games of the Week
- Watsonville vs. North Salinas, girls basketball, Tuesday at 7pm: The Wildcatz (6-7) will tip off the start of PCAL Gabilan Division play against senior Daeja Hollands and the Vikings (9-2), who are the heavy favorites to win the league this season.
- St. Francis vs. Rancho San Juan, boys basketball, Wednesday at 7pm: The Sharks (4-5) want to begin PCAL Cypress Division play on the right foot against a Trailblazers (7-3) team that went 2-1 in last week’s Steinbeck Classic tournament they hosted.
- Pajaro Valley vs. Monte Vista Christian, girls soccer, Friday at 3pm: The Grizzlies (4-3-1) were bumped up a division and will kick off the PCAL Mission Division season against the Mustangs (1-4-2), who are looking to return to the Central Coast Section postseason.
