Mustangs girls soccer meets San Benito in first-place showdown
Tuesday; GHS boys hoops hosts Palma in crucial league tilt Friday;
CHS boys hoops play final home game Tuesday.
Five players registered double-digit scoring performances and the Christopher High boys basketball team picked up its second win of the week, handling host North Monterey County 71-36 on Friday night in Castroville.
“It’s nice to put a couple of wins together heading into the last week of the season,” CHS head coach Kaden Bahner said. “It was a good team effort.”
The Cougars also defeated Pajaro Valley last Wednesday and now sit a 4-6 in the Monterey Bay League with two games remaining – two victories away from a .500 league record in their first endeavor as a varsity program.
“We are really excited and have a lot to play for,” Bahner said.
Leading the pack of double-digit scorers, Nick Cordova posted a game-high 21 points. Wyatt Rocheleau, Takoda Bowers and Luke Laguna had 12 points apiece and DJ Campos contributed 10.
A quick start led to a 33-17 halftime advantage.
“We started the game with the intensity that we needed,” Bahner said.
The Cougars carried a 14-point lead into the final quarter before erupting for 25 points over the last eight minutes to leave little doubt of the outcome as the fourth quarter rolled along.
The Cougars wrap up the home portion of their schedule against Monterey on Tuesday before hitting the road for their season finale at Monte Vista Christian on Thursday.
Both games are schedule for 7 p.m. starts.
GIRLS SOCCER: GHS 7, Notre Dame 0
The Gilroy High girls soccer team scooted past Notre Dame 7-0 on Friday night in Salinas, but it’s a home game against rival San Benito on Tuesday that has the Mustangs’ attention.
Gilroy and San Benito, both 7-0-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League, take the pitch for a tilt that will decide the league championship. Though three games still await each squad after the apparent winner-take-all match, both teams have had little trouble with the rest of the league.
The last matchup between the two on the home turf at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex was all Gilroy in a 9-1 thrashing. However, the Balers’ defense is much improved and has collected 12 shutouts this season, including five in league action.
GHS and San Benito played to a 1-1 on Jan. 19 in Hollister.
On Friday, the Mustangs opened a 3-0 halftime cushion and tacked on four more tallies for good measure in the second half.
“I was pleased with our possession and overall movement in the game,” GHS head coach Jose Hernandez said. “The girls did a good job in making personal objectives.”
Cynthia Sanchez, Alex Maldonado and Indra Garcia each booted home two goals and Taylor Slattery had one.
Tuesday’s game against San Benito is slated for 5:15 p.m.
BOYS HOOPS: GHS 69, North Salinas 68
With San Benito avenging a loss to Palma on Friday night to tighten its grasp on second-place in the Tri-County Athletic League, the Gilroy High boys basketball team’s 69-68 victory over North Salinas that same night held that much more importance.
Three days removed from a gut-wrenching 70-69 loss to the Balers (12-9, 7-2 TCAL), the Mustangs road tilt against the Vikings turned into a must-win if they wanted to keep their name in the hat for the coveted second spot.
The Mustangs (13-8, 6-3 TCAL) host Palma (13-8, 5-4 TCAL) this Friday. GHS defeated the Chieftains 72-21 on a late 3-pointer from Chris Catanzaro on Jan. 19.
