Gilroy High School

Sara Makanani converted 1-of-2 free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining in the game, and after one final defensive stand, North Salinas defeated Gilroy High 40-39 in a gritty Tri-County Athletic League tilt Tuesday in Gilroy.

Gilroy High wrestling coach Greg Varela said this past weekend's 35th annual Doc Buchanan Invitational - a tournament that hosts the who's, who of California's top-ranked wrestlers - served as a mid-term-like indicator as the season makes a turn for crunch time. The Mustangs are sitting above the curve.

Hyram Miskin had 20 points, Jacob Tonascia added 15 more, and the San Benito boys basketball team defeated host Gilroy High 51-37 in Tri-County Athletic League action Friday night.

After a one point fourth-quarter lead turned into a 15-point loss to North Salinas on Tuesday, one of the last things the San Benito girls basketball team wanted to do was blow another fourth quarter lead.

Revolving door. Fountain of youth. Tradition. Good genes. Conveyor belt. Somehow, year in and year out, the Gilroy High wrestling team is rejuvenated. This season is no different. And as January creeps along – with Mid-Cals and the Tri-County Athletic League and Central Coast Section meets on the horizon, it’s about to get serious inside the Mustangs practice room at South Valley Middle School.

Head coach Matt Tait described the Gilroy High boys basketball team's Tri-County Athletic League opener at Everett Alvarez as “not pretty.” The Mustangs (5-8 overall 1-0 TCAL) dropped a 63-33 decision to the Eagles (8-4 overall, 1-0 TCAL) in Salinas on Wednesday night.

The one-two punch of sisters Hanna and Olivia Tabron has been a beneficial combination for the Christopher High girls varsity basketball team during the first half of the season.

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.