Junior guard Brooklyn Williams scored a team-high 13 points, and the Scotts Valley HIgh’s girls basketball team beat two-time defending champion Santa Cruz 46-40 in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play Tuesday.

It was the host Cardinals’ first league loss since Feb. 9, 2022.

“Our press was very effective, creating a lot of turnovers,” Falcons coach Stu Hurvitz said. “Our defense is proving to be one of our best assets, holding SC to just 40 points.”

Scotts Valley (13-2, 3-0) has held opponents to 40 or less points 11 times this season.

Senior center Claire Skinner had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Falcons, who are attempting to win their first league title since 2015-16.

“Her presence inside on ‘D’ helped us from them getting second-chance points,” Hurvitz said.

Junior Sammy Rebbert scored seven points for Scotts Valley, and senior Abigail Shi had six points and six rebounds.

“Abby Shi played another great all around game. Her scoring numbers never tell the true story of how much she affects the outcome of the game.

Scotts Valley led 21-17 at the half.

Mila Conn scored a game-high 19 points and had three steals and two rebounds for the Cardinals (7-9, 2-1). Karolina Espinosa had 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.

On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Scotts Valley plays at San Lorenzo Valley (9-7, 1-2) in Felton, while Santa Cruz plays at Aptos (10-7, 2-1).

Aptos 47, at Soquel 32 >> Senior Berkeley Ashby scored all 13 points of her points in the first half, and the Mariners got in front early and rolled to the SCCAL win Tuesday. She also had six rebounds and four steals.

Junior Abby Sherwood led the Mariners (10-7, 2-1) with 16 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Emi Gansauer-Pilcher had eight assists, six steals, and forced several turnovers with her suffocating defense.

On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Aptos hosts Santa Cruz (7-9, 2-1), while Soquel (3-7, 1-2) plays at Harbor (1-11, 0-3).

SLV 37, at Harbor 30 >> Taylor Kievlan and Violet Derr each scored eight points, and the Cougars picked up their first SCCAL win Tuesday.

Poppy Owens scored seven points for the Cougars (9-7, 1-2).

SLV’s full-court press created steals and easy transition baskets in the first half, helping it jump out to a 27-11 lead at the half. The Pirates settled down and made it a game in the second half, when they started to figure out SLV’s zone defense, but they ran out of time.

Sophomore Julianne Sanguinetti scored 12 points to lead the Pirates (1-11, 0-3), and freshman Lia Lafrandt scored nine points.

On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., SLV hosts Scotts Valley (13-2, 3-0), while Harbor hosts Soquel (3-7, 1-2).

Boys basketball

Aptos 46, at Soquel 30 >> Senior guard Nick Tovani scored 15 points, and the Mariners jumped out to a big lead and posted another dominant showing on defense in their SCCAL win Tuesday.

Senior forward Isaiah Acherman had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Mariners (13-4, 3-0). Senior center Owen Warmerdam had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Mariners are 13-1 in games where they’ve held their opponent to 50 points or less. The 30 points allowed was a season low.

Aptos led 18-4 by the end of the first quarter and 25-9 at the half. The Mariners pushed their lead to 29 points before the Knights closed strong and outscored Aptos 13-4 in the fourth quarter.

Senior guard Nico Ramirez scored eight points to lead the Knights (8-9, 1-2), and Steely Deans added seven points.

On Thursday at 7 p.m, Aptos hosts Santa Cruz (9-7, 3-0), while Soquel plays at Harbor (6-10, 1-2).

At Santa Cruz 61, Scotts Valley 48 >> Junior forward DeMarco Hunter had 19 points and 16 rebounds, and the Cardinals won their SCCAL game Tuesday.

Sophomore guard L.J. Legan made three 3-pointers and scored 12 points for the Cardinals (9-7, 3-0), who trailed 26-21 at the half. Senior forward Guerande Houssin had 10 points and six rebounds.

Santa Cruz outscored the Scotts Valley 22-12 in the fourth quarter. Cardinals senior guard Mosiah Cumberbatch scored seven of his nine points over the final eight minutes.

Senior guard Taylor Knox made three 3-pointers and scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the second quarter for the Falcons (7-10, 1-2). Senior center Jacob Sanders scored 13 points.

On Thursday at 7 p.m., Scotts Valley plays at SLV (4-11, 0-3) in Felton, while Santa Cruz plays at Aptos (13-4, 3-0).

At Harbor 62, SLV 54 >> Senior Miles Dix scored19 of his game-high 24 came in the second and third quarters, and the Pirates earned their first win of SCCAL play Tuesday. He also had four rebounds.

“Great team win,” said Pirates coach Craig Wooden.

Freshman guard Hudson Bare had 14 points and four steals for the Pirates (6-10, 1-2). Wooden said Bare “grew up tonight,” noting that his young talent was knocked to the ground multiple times but continued to shine despite the physicality of the game.

Sophomore guard Malik Wooden finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for Harbor.

On Thursday at 7 p.m., Harbor hosts Soquel (8-9, 1-2), while SLV hosts Scotts Valley (7-10, 1-2).

Watsonville 79, at Rancho San Juan 66 >> The Wildcatz pushed their win streak to seven games and remained unbeaten in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play Tuesday.

Watsonville (11-5, 6-0) hosts North Monterey County (10-6, 5-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

At Hollister 61, Monte Vista Christian 44 >> The Mustangs were outscored 19-9 in the second quarter and 22-15 in the third quarter of their PCAL Mission Division loss Tuesday.

MVC (6-8, 0-5) looks to break through for its first league win when it hosts Seaside (0-13, 0-4) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Surfing

SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach >> Santa Cruz’s Sam Coffey advances from his third heat at the World Surf League’s SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach, a Qualifying Series 3,000-point event, on Wednesday. Fellow Santa Cruzan John Mel also advanced to the Round of 32.

Coffey posted a two-wave total score of 13.93 in 1- to 4-foot waves for second place in Heat 5 in the Round of 64.

Ventura’s Jabe Swierkocki (15.50) won the 20-minute heat and also advanced, while Santa Cruz’s Nat Young (10.27) and San Clemente’s Chase Niemann (7.13) were eliminated.

Mel (11.37) took second behind Encinitas’ Levi Slawson (15.67) in Heat 12 and both advanced, while Kai Gale Grani (9.10) of Panama and Carlsbad’s Timothy Fandey (5.96) were eliminated.

In the Round of 32, Coffey goes in Heat 4 and Mel goes in Heat 5.

Girls soccer

At Aptos 6, Soquel 0 >> Scarlet Stateler had a goal and three assists, and the defending SCCAL champion Mariners remained unbeaten and gained sole possession of the league lead Tuesday.

Isabella Hartnett scored twice for the Mariners (8-2-0, 3-0-0), and Emily Santiago had a goal and an assist. Anahi Macias and Alexa Castaneda also scored.

Bella Doolittle had an assist, and Mariners goalie Evelyn Pini made four saves.

On Thursday at 7 p.m., Aptos plays at Santa Cruz (4-5-1, 2-1-0), while Soquel (7-3-1, 2-1-0) plays at Harbor (0-10, 0-3).

At Santa Cruz 2, Scotts Valley 0 >> Junior Hayden Kriege and sophomore Joy Roberts scored for the Cardinals in their SCCAL win Tuesday.

Freshman Carly Baron and junior Lia Gularte recorded assists as the Cardinals (4-5-1, 2-1-0) won for the fourth time in five matches.

Cardinals coach Poul Schiebel said his player are only “scratching the surface of their potential.”

“I’m proud of how the team played overall,” he said. “They are continuing to move in the right direction. One of our most complete games.”

Cardinals sophomore Ari Flores made two key stops in the final two minutes and finished with 10 saves.

On Thursday, Scotts Vally (4-5-3, 1-2-0) hosts SLV (2-6-0, 1-2-0) at 3:30 p.m., and Santa Cruz hosts Aptos (8-2-0, 3-0-0) at 7 p.m.

SLV 1, at Harbor 0 >> Jessica Stoelting scored on a pass from Danielle Stiles in the 55th minute, and the Cougars picked up their first SCCAL win Tuesday.

Goalie Cheyenne Casey made four saves for the Cougars (2-7-0, 1-2-0).

On Thursday, SLV plays at Scotts Valley (4-5-3, 1-2-0) at 3:30 p.m., and Harbor (0-10, 0-3) hosts Soquel (7-3-1, 2-1-0) at 7 p.m.

At St. Francis 2, York 1 >> The Sharks won their PCAL Santa Lucia Division match Tuesday.

St. Francis (5-1-1, 3-0-0) plays at Anzar on Monday at 3:30 p.m.

Boys soccer

St. Francis 2, at York 1 >> Freshman Luis Jimenez had a goal and an assist in the Sharks’ PCAL Santa Lucia Division win in Monterey on Tuesday.

Sophomore Aiden Berrelleza also scored for the Sharks (1-5-1, 1-1-1).

Sharks coach Valentin Berrelleza praised sophomore Vince Tovar for taking leadership in organizing the defensive line and middle. The coach also singled out junior Coy Jordan for his play in the middle, and sophomore goalie/forward Colton Stevens, who made four saves before he moved to an attacking role and increased the Sharks’ scoring opportunities over a 20-minute stretch.

St. Francis plays at Monterey Bay Academy on Thursday at 6 p.m.