SANTA CRUZ >> Aptos High’s boys basketball team and rival Santa Cruz went down to the wire, again.

The Mariners scored just two points over the final five minutes of regulation — a pair of free throws from senior forward Isaiah Ackerman with 3.8 seconds on the clock — and held on for a 48-44 victory to unseat the Cardinals as Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League champion on Thursday night in front of a near capacity crowd.

“It was one of our goals coming into the season to be solo league champs, and, obviously, it feels great,” Ackerman said. “For me, I’ve never won here before, at Santa Cruz. It’s definitely very special. And we’re solo league champs.”

The Mariners (19-4 overall, 9-0 in league) held its largest lead, 15 points, three times in the second half. First on Ackerman’s breakaway dunk late in the third quarter, and, lastly, on Nick Tovani’s Euro step layup, which put Aptos ahead 46-31 in the fourth quarter.

But senior guard Mosiah Cumberbatch made a pair of field goals, including an and-one basket, sophomore guard L.J. Legan drained a 3-pointer, and star junior forward DeMarco Hunter made a pair of free throws and a field goal to pull the Cardinals within three points, 46-43.

During its cold stretch, Aptos missed 3-point attempts and layups alike, plus four free throws in the final 31 seconds.

“These games are these games; they’re always going to be like this,” Mariners coach Brian Bowyer said. “It was a hard-fought game, like we expected. But we feel good, real good.”

The Cardinals’ comeback bid took a massive hit when Hunter fouled out with 1:22 remaining. Santa Cruz (13-10, 7-2) scored just one point the rest of the way, a free throw from Cumberbatch in the final 10 seconds.

The game was eerily similar to, well, pretty much every game the rivals have played over the past decade. They’ve shared the SCCAL title four times in that span.

In the teams’ first meeting this season on Jan. 23, the Mariners blew an early lead and wound up prevailing in overtime. Unlike the first meeting, the Cardinals were without the services of forward Guerande Houssin. He sidelined by a right ankle injury sustained in Santa Cruz’s win over Scotts Valley two days earlier.

Aptos had trouble producing early with Hunter stationed in the paint. He made three of his four blocks in the first half.

“We were trying to seal him off a bit,” Tovani said. “It was working, but he’s just a freak athlete. You don’t really see him coming, when he’s coming. That’s definitely hard spot to be when you’re both under the hoop. It’s hard to get those shots off. But we adjusted and found a way to make it work.”

The Mariners shifted their personnel around in an attempt to lure Hunter away from the basket and the moves paid dividends. Tovani’s fadeaway jump shot over Hunter helped spark 13-7 run heading into the half.

“You see that go in and it’s definitely a confidence booster,” Tovani said. “I think it was a big one. It kinda set a tone for our team. It kinda got us all energized and ready to go.”

While Ackerman and Tovani did the bulk of the scoring, Ryan Solorio, Levi Race and Demian Matlow also contributed with timely baskets. In such a tight game, every basket the Mariners made proved crucial.

The Mariners pressed early and wreaked havoc with their man defense, and the Cardinals didn’t do themselves any favors. They didn’t shoot the ball well and committed too many turnovers. They made just two field goals in the third quarter, when they missed all six of their 3-point attempts, including a pair of airballs.

“I don’t think it was their defense, I think it was our offense,” Cumberbatch said. “We were playing sloppy, we were going through the motions, we weren’t prepared, and that’s how it went. I think it’s the Aptos lore, playing the Aptos game. Everything makes you feel a little more flustered.”

Santa Cruz finished 9-of-17 shooting on free throws. Aptos was 6-of-12 from the line.

Ackerman finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and three blocks. It was his 12th double-double of the season.

Tovani had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Senior center Owen Warmerdam was held to two points but pulled down six rebounds for the Mariners, who are ranked No. 16 in the Central Coast Section by maxpreps.com.

Bowyer was happy for his five seniors. Several of them were reserves last season, including Tovani and Warmerdam.

“A lot of them have waited their time,” Bowyer said. “A lot of them didn’t see a lot of playing time last year. They waited their time, they never complained. And this is their year, and they’re doing it. We’re sharing the ball, and we’re playing the right way. I’m just so happy for them.”

Hunter finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the No. 28 Cardinals, and Cumberbatch had 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

In Saturday’s regular-season finales at 4 p.m., Aptos plays at Harbor, and Santa Cruz plays at San Lorenzo Valley.

Cumberbatch is hopeful that the teams will meet again in the SCCAL Tournament next week.

“We’re some soldiers,” Cumberbatch said. “We’ve been going through a lot of battles, pushing through. I think we are a good team; we just need to find our potential.”

Scotts Valley 85, SLV 50

SCOTTS VALLEY >> Senior center Jacob Sanders had 27 points and 15 rebounds against his former team, and the Falcons qualified for the CCS playoffs with their SCCAL win Thursday.

The Falcons led 16-10 at the end of first quarter but used a 21-point second quarter to claim the lead at halftime and never looked back.

Taylor Knox scored 20 points for the Falcons (11-12, 5-4). Will Shilling scored 17 points, and Zach Kelly chipped in with eight points.

Caleb Cox scored 15 points to lead the Cougars (5-16, 1-8). Noah Steiger scored 14 points.

On Saturday at 4 p.m., Scotts Valley plays at Soquel, and SLV hosts Santa Cruz.

Soquel 72, Harbor 24

SANTA CRUZ >> Nolen Westfall and Nico Ramirez scored 20 points and 14, respectively, on senior night, and the Knights won their SCCAL game Thursday.

Junior Connor Corlett, Soquel’s back-up center, came off the bench and had eight points, eight rebounds, and made three blocks.

Soquel led 41-11 at the half.

Senior guard Miles Dix scored nine points to lead the Pirates (6-16, 1-8).

On Saturday at 4 p.m., the Knights (11-12, 4-5) host Scotts Valley, and Harbor hosts Aptos.

Watsonville 81, Seaside 48

SEASIDE >> The PCAL Mission Division leading Wildcatz eclipsed the 80-point mark on offense for the fifth time this season Thursday.

Watsonville (15-3, 11-1) hosts Rancho San Juan (14-8, 8-4) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Pajaro Valley 72, Trinity Christian 44

WATSONVILLE >> Senior Anthony Aguirre scored 19 points, and the second-place Grizzlies won their PCAL Santa Lucia Division game Thursday.

Senior Carlos Escobar scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who led 41-14 at the half.

Junior Eli Robertson made four 3s and scored 25 points for the Warriors (3-7, 3-5). Brady Ramones scored 11 points.

Pajaro Valley (9-9, 8-2) hosts Monterey Bay Academy to close the regular season on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Marina 73, MVC 54

WATSONVILLE >> Sophomore Matteo Vidal made six 3-pointers and scored a game-high 22 points, but the Mustangs lost their PCAL Mission Division game Thursday.

Senior Nico Downie scored 14 points for the Mustangs (8-13, 2-8), who trailed 45-33 at the half.

Kaleb True scored 15 points to lead the Mariners (8-15, 3-9).

MVC hosts Hollister (12-7, 8-3) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.