LOS GATOS >> Before the game even tipped off, Salinas High was assessed a technical foul after officials ruled that their uniforms — ones that they have used since girls’ basketball coach Jen Gordon took the job three years ago — were illegal.

“I was told the numbers, which are purple on black were illegal,” Gordon said. “We have never been called on it. These are the only road uniforms we have. I was told to get new uniforms.”

It snowballed from there as the Cowboys had no answer for top-seed Los Gatos’ twin towers, as the pair dominated the paint in a 53-35 win, advancing to the Division I finals for the third time in four years.

The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Cowboys (19-8), who won the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division, and were in the semifinals for the first time in 18 years.

“Their size hurt us,” Gordon said. “We tried to attack in a 2-3 zone. We sandwiched the big girls. But both are DI commits. It reminded me of when Jeff Foster and I were in high school and we passed over defenses. It was a choir.”

Gordon, who is 6-feet-8 and played professionally in Germany, helped North Salinas to a pair of CCS titles in 1984-85, along with the 6-9 Foster.

Salinas had no answer to Los Gatos’ 6-2 Ashley Childers and 6-1 Nicole Steiner, who dominated the paint in producing double digits in the scoring column.

“I thought our defensive plan went well,” Gordon said. “But when you give an opponent extra shots, one is going to fall. Sometimes they were getting five shots on one possession. Our tallest girl is 5-10.”

Freshman Isabella Stepp led Salinas with seven points, while twins Erin and Alice Uchida each scored six. Jennifer Rivera and Alyssa Escutia were praised for their defense by Gordon.

“I’ll take a few weeks off, recharge the batteries and see who wants to get back in the gym,” Gordon said. “We’re losing six seniors. But the core of the team will be back.”

Division V

Castilleja 26, Palma 13 >> Usually when you hold an opponent to 26 points in the postseason, you’re not talking about your season coming to an end.

The Chieftains, however, struggled from the field as they were held to a season low 13 points — five in the second half in falling in the CCS Division V semifinals to Castilleja in Palo Alto.

“We could not put the ball in the basket tonight,” Palma coach Robbie Johnson said. “The game plan was to attack the basket. But their guards were big. We were shooting a lot of 3s. We took some bad shots.”

Runner ups in the Cypress Division, Palma finished its first season 23-4. The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak.

“I had no idea what I’d have when I took the job,” said Johnson, who had three players that played for him at Notre Dame last year transfer when Palma opened its doors to girls for the first time in 60 years.

Having scored a season high 78 points in its playoff opening win over Pescadero, Palma found itself down 10-8 at the half to the top seed in Division V.

“I think at halftime the girls believed we could win this game,” Johnson said. “But you could tell that program has been here before. Hats off to them. They outhustled us at times.”

Seniors Frankie Rossi and Aveena Ducusin each had four points for the Chieftains, who are likely ticketed to move up a division next season in the Pacific Coast Athletic League.

“I’ve requested we go to the Mission Division,” Johnson said. “I think it will prepare us better for moments like this. We’re only losing three players. I told the younger girls to set the bar high for yourselves next season.”