St. Francis High’s Miles Guardino led the Sharks boys’ basketball team to victory over crosstown foe Monte Vista Christian in the teams’ league opener on Friday night.
Gardino finished with a game-high 20 points in a 54-43 win against the Mustangs in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play on Jan. 14.
Nash Horton scored 16 points for St. Francis (6-5, 1-0) and Christian Magana added 13 points.
The Sharks got off to a rocky start and were held to four points in the first quarter. They also allowed the Mustangs to go on a scoring barrage in the final four minutes that gave them an 11-4 lead at end of the opening stanza.
St. Francis made some adjustments by switching its defense to a full court man-to-man press and MVC had a hard time moving the ball around.
The Mustangs made a couple of buckets near the end of the second quarter, but the Sharks were still ahead, 22-18, going into halftime.
The Sharks exploded for 24 points in the fourth quarter and pulled away for their first league win of the season.
Ryan Cahalan scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the second half for the Mustangs (2-10, 0-1). Luke Finney added 10 points.
Next up, MVC hosts Alvarez (11-3, 0-0) and the Sharks host North Monterey County (3-9, 0-1). Both games are scheduled for Tuesday at 7pm.
Pacific Collegiate 75, Watsonville 65: Richie Ortiz finished with 18 points for the Wildcatz in their non-league loss to the Pumas on Jan. 15.
Ortiz made three 3-pointers and teammate Jacob Marinez had four 3s, scoring 14 points for the Wildcatz (8-6, 2-0), who plays Soledad in PCAL Santa Lucia Division play on Tuesday at 7pm.
Watsonville 62, King City 48: Karlos Corpus scored 22 points for the Wildcatz in their win against the Mustangs in the teams’ PCAL Santa Lucia game.
Corpus made four 3-pointers and was 10-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. Fellow teammate Richie Ortiz scored 17 points for the Wildcatz and Brody Legions added 12 points.
Watsonville’s PCAL game on Jan. 13 against Rancho San Juan was postponed due to Covid-19 protocol.
Girls basketball
Watsonville 54, North Monterey County 29: Kaylani Trout-Lacy scored a game-high 18 points and the Wildcatz won their PCAL Mission Division opener Jan. 10.
Marissa Martinez scored 12 points for Watsonville and Xitlali Montesino added nine points.
Watsonville (6-5, 1-0) plays at Alisal on Wednesday at 7pm.
Reporting Scores
Coaches are encouraged to report scores and highlights to jr****@pa********.com following games. Please include your name and contact number in the email.
