Sports

In the Gabilan division, Watsonville will not only be tasked with knocking off three-time reigning champ Salinas High, but a load of other technically sound squads like Gilroy High, Alvarez High and Notre Dame-Salinas.

Watsonville High senior point guard Savanah Quintana and Pajaro Valley High junior point guard Jayleen Solorzano have dazzled through the preseason and both have their squads poised to compete for the MBL-P title.

The Watsonville High girls’ basketball team beat Pacific Grove High, 60-42, to win its fifth straight preseason game on Thursday night at home.

The power-running downhill back bulldozed his way to a spectacular season in which he led Aptos to its eighth straight Central Coast Section playoff appearance, was recognized as the top offensive player in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan division and etched his name into the program’s record book.

Cabrillo College freshman defensive back Shaq Floyd and sophomore linebacker Travis Schuhe were named to the All-California Community College Football Region II First Team.

A pint-sized, hard-nosed runner that made her name known this season, Ruiz was voted the top freshman female cross country runner in all of Northern California by a committee of coaches and writers from the various sections of the area.

St. Francis High is coming off a historic season in which it won the league title as well as Central Coast Section and California Interscholastic Federation Northern California championships.

Natalia Ackerman had 23 points and eight rebounds, Gabby Giuffre added 18 points and six assists and the Aptos High girls’ basketball team beat North Salinas High, 59-40, on Saturday afternoon to win the North Salinas High Sportsmanship Classic championship.

The former Cabrillo and Watsonville High great will be enshrined with his heroes on Jan. 20 at the Seascape Resort when the Seahawks’ athletic program welcomes its second-ever class into its Hall of Fame.