Sports

The Aptos High Mariners have had a whole week to prepare for their Monterey Bay League Gabilan division debut against the Palma High Chieftains and they without a doubt needed the extra time to sort out their shortcomings over the first three weeks of the season.

Top-seeded Santa Catalina repeated as the CCS Division V champion, sweeping No. 2 Mt. Madonna 25-21, 25-14, 25-14 on Friday night at Watsonville High but the powerhouse Cougars we’re not backflipping over the victory.

Blankenship, now a nine-time section champion and 285-game winner, will probably be fine-tuning the Mariners’ depth chart for the 2019 season while his family unwraps presents on Christmas morning. And he’ll probably be watching game film of the incoming senior and junior classes as the ball drops in Times Square to ring in the new year.

The Pajaro Valley High boys’ basketball team rallied, but ultimately fell short in a 64-60 loss to No. 12 Soledad High in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs on Tuesday night.

Joey Garibay, St. Francis, (Sr.): Sharks’ senior finished with 77 receiving yards, two touchdowns and a fumble recovery in last week’s PCAL-Cypress win against Greenfield. Kaylani Lacy-Trout, Watsonville, (Fr.): Wildcatz’s freshman finished with a team-high 13 kills and six blocks in Thursday’s win over Stevenson...

Despite the inexperience, the small K-12 charter school kept it close through two quarters — thanks in no small part to senior point guard Jarrod Garcia.

The sports world took a major hit Tuesday as the International Olympic Committee announced it will postpone this year’s summer games.  Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, and Abe Shinzo, prime minister of Japan, decided the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not take place until...