High School Sports

For nearly six innings, San Benito was far from the team that’s expected to challenge for a Central Coast Section title Monday against Gilroy. In the only game this year against rival Mustangs, the Balers couldn’t find a way inside the strike zone – walking eight batters – and couldn’t take advantage of their offensive opportunities.

Nikko Villarreal had just won the match of the day, claiming a triple-overtime showdown between two national-caliber wrestlers in the 138-pound final of the Central Coast Section meet.

Christopher High junior wrestler Jimmie Lopez claimed his second straight Central Coast Section title Saturday, winning the 106-pound final with a third-period pin over Silver Creek junior Alvin Nguyen at Independence High in San Jose.

Gilroy High’s Cinderella run through the Central Coast Section Division III boys soccer playoffs continued Saturday, as the Mustangs eliminated No. 1 seed Half Moon Bay, 7-6 on penalty kicks after the match had been tied 3-3 at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.

Gilroy High’s girls soccer team saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion Saturday, falling 4-3 on penalty kicks to Burlingame after the Central Coast Section Division II quarterfinal had been a scoreless tie at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.

Hanna Tabron scored 12 points, but Christopher High’s girls basketball team saw its season end with a 38-26 home loss to Notre Dame of San Jose in the quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs Saturday.

Christopher High’s boys basketball team saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion Thursday night, suffering a 54-53 loss at Monterey in the second round of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs.

Christopher High girls basketball coach Heather Stewart implored her team to dig in defensively in the final seconds Thursday night.

Christopher High’s girls soccer team saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion Wednesday, as the Cougars suffered a 1-0 loss at undefeated Del Mar in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs.

David Valencia, Andres Jimenez and Miguel Gutierrez scored one goal each to lead Gilroy High’s boys soccer team to a 3-0 win at Saratoga in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs Tuesday night.