Christopher High School

Most of the area’s soccer, basketball and wrestling teams either begin, or jump back into league contests this week. Here is what’s on tap:

The consolation final of the Dons Club Holiday Tournament hosted by Del Mar High School had a little bit of everything. For the Christopher High girls varsity basketball team, though, the only detail it lacked was a victory.

One of the best attributes of this job is watching – game after game, season after season. No two games are alike. With each season comes a fair share of surprises. And every year is filled with memorable moments.

There may have been some lingering frustrations following a disappointing loss to San Mateo the day before as the Christopher High girls basketball team exploded for a 69-21 victory against Overfelt on Day 2 of Dons Club Holiday Tournament hosted by Del Mar High on Wednesday.

The Gilroy High boys basketball team scrapped its way into overtime after Christian Goldstein hit a 3-pointer as time ran out in regulation, however Damonte Ranch scored seven points - all from the free throw line - in the extra session to top the Mustangs 44-40 in the first round of the Sobrato Bulldog Chase Tournament on Tuesday night in Morgan Hill.

Looking at the teams in this week’s sixth annual Bulldog Chase, some might find it hard to believe Sobrato coach Lee Washington put it together at the last minute. The three-day boys basketball tournament tips off with four games Tuesday, starting at 3 p.m. at Sobrato High School. Each one will feature at least one team that reached the Central Coast Section playoffs last year.

Christian Goldstein searched for a concrete answer, a reason,

The good news first: The Christopher High girls varsity basketball team picked up a 55-50 victory over perennial section power North Salinas on the road Tuesday night. The not as good news: The Cougars led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter before being outscored 23-9 in the fourth and forced to hold on for the five-point win. Either way it's dissected, though, the Cougars weathered the storm and moved to 6-2 this season after their fourth straight triumph.

Dillon Babb posted a jaw-dropping double-double, three otehrs socred in double digits and the Christopher High boys basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 66-57 home victory over San Lorenzo Valley on Monday night. “Overall it was a big win for us. It was a gritty battle that we needed to come away with. And we did,” CHS head coach Kaden Bahner said.

The series coined “El Classico” three years ago - first played between the junior varsity teams – featured the second annual varsity matchup between the Gilroy High and Christopher boys soccer teams Friday night. And for the second straight season the trophy – and bragging rights – stayed with the Mustangs after a 4-0 victory.