Senior Valeria Acosta scored twice, and Pajaro Valley High’s girls soccer team beat visiting North Salinas 5-0 to finish unbeaten in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division on a rainy Thursday.

The Grizzlies (18-1-2, 10-0-2), who celebrated their first league championship since winning the Santa Lucia Division title in 2019-20, advance to the Central Coast Section playoffs for a second straight year. The seeding meeting takes place Feb. 20.

“I’m most proud of these girls’ bond,” said Grizzlies coach Kristian Flores said. “They’re together on and off the field.”The Grizzlies are unbeaten at home over their past 16 matches, which dates back to last season.

“They make it a hard place to go in and get results,” Flores said.

Acosta, who is recovering from the flu, exited after scoring her second goal in the seventh minute, which raised her school-record total to 45, the eighth-highest total in the state this winter.

Seniors Leilani Vazquez and Leslie Carrisoza, and freshman Denise Magallon also scored.

Junior Scarlet Gomez had two assists, which boosted her season total to 25.

“We have other threats besides Valeria,” Flores said. “But when she’s on a hot streak like she is, we want to feed her as much as we can. She gets a lot of attention and that frees up other players.”

The Grizzlies celebrated senior day, and five graduating players were honored: Acosta, Carrisoza, Vazquez, Jennifer Martinez and Carmen Estanquero.

At Aptos 5, Harbor 0 >> The Mariners, winner of the past three Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League titles, closed the regular season Thursday by extending their unbeaten streak in league to 20 matches.

The Mariners (15-2-1, 9-0-1) outscored opponents 77-11 this season and posted 11 shutouts. They’ll next compete in the CCS playoffs.

“Tonight was our senior night, and we had two outstanding seniors in the back line who helped us post the shutout,” said Mariners coach Gina Castaneda. “Izzy Graff has been stellar all season and Bianca Alverez, coming back from an injury, played amazing. Lastly, senior Anahi Macias, playing in the defensive mid position, has been a defensive wall and the anchor for the midfield all season.”

Macias finished off a pass from Isabella Hartnett in the second minute to open scoring.

Marlene Zamora added goals in the 18th and 24 minutes, and Emily Santiago helped the Mariners carry a 4-0 lead into the half with her tally in the 37th minute.

Aptos’ Gigi Zuniga had her shot deflect off of a Harbor defender and go in the goal.

Scarlett Stateler and Alexa Castaneda recorded assists.

Goalkeeper Evelyn Pini didn’t make a save in the shutout.

At Santa Cruz 5, San Lorenzo Valley 2 >> Senior Maeve Golliher scored twice, and classmate Giselle Ballesteres added a goal as the Cardinals won on senior night Thursday to end SCCAL play.

Santa Cruz (6-8-3, 4-4-2) snapped a four-match winless streak to close the regular season.

“I couldn’t be happier for the seniors who scored goals,” Cardinals coach Poul Schiebel said. “The win was a nice sendoff for the seniors on our senior night. The younger girls worked hard to give them a proper sendoff. I’m proud of the whole team.”

Joy Roberts and Allie Rodriguez also scored for the Cardinals, who led 3-1 at the half.

Sophomore Savannah Henry and freshman Harper Ryono each had two assists. Sophomore Nareni Carre Martinez also set up a goal.

Boys basketball

At Aptos 48, Scotts Valley 41 >> Senior forward Isaiah Ackerman had 25 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals, and the No. 1 Mariners pulled away from the No. 4 Falcons late in the SCCAL Tournament semifinals on Thursday.

Scotts Valley cut the lead to two points with less than four minutes remaining, but Ackerman hit a 3-pointer to gain a little space. Ryan Solorio was fouled with 20 seconds left and the Mariners up by three points. He made both free throws to put the game out of reach.

Solorio finished with 10 points for the Mariners, and Cade Bogle scored all six of his points in the second quarter.

Senior center Jacob Sanders led the Falcons with 18 points. Twins Will and Zach Shilling each scored seven points.

Aptos faces No. 2 Santa Cruz in the tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Santa Cruz 55, Soquel 47 >> Junior forward DeMarco Hunter had 15 points and eight rebounds, and the No. 2 Cardinals held off the No. 3 Knights in the SCCAL Tournament semifinals at Aptos High on Thursday.

Sophomore guard L.J. Legan scored 15 points for the Cardinals, and senior guard Mosiah Cumberbatch had 10 points and five rebounds.

Senior Peyton Bortz scored 11 points to lead the Knights. Senior Nolan Westfall added 10 points, and senior Nico Ramirez chipped in with eight points.

Santa Cruz faces No. 1 Aptos in the tournament championship at Cabrillo College on Saturday at 7 p.m.

At St. Francis 68, Pacific Collegiate 31 >> Senior Nash Horton had 19 points, 10 rebounds, seven steals and four assists, and the Sharks capped a perfect season in PCAL Cypress Division play Thursday.

The Sharks earned their third Cypress title since 2020. They led 39-18 at the half.

Jesse Navarro made three 3-pointers and scored nine points for the CCS playoffs-bound Sharks (21-3, 12-0). Mario Zermiano and Isaiah Villalobos each scored eight points.

Ian Bulfin led the Pumas (4-15, 1-11) with 11 points.

PCS plays at Harbor (6-18) in league action on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Girls basketball

At St. Francis 44, PCS 27 >> Freshman guard Liliana Whitmeyer had 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals, and the CCS playoffs-bound Sharks completed their unbeaten season in the PCAL Cypress Division on Thursday.

Senior Maeve Flynn had 10 points and two rebounds for the Sharks (21-2, 14-0), and sophomore guard Maya Calfee had six points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Kat Buckley scored 15 points to lead the Pumas (12-10, 7-7).

At Watsonville 42, Alisal 29 >> Senior Hailey Brooks had 11 points, seven rebounds, and five steals, and the Wildcatz won their PCAL Gabilan Division and regular-season finale Thursday.

Senior Brianna Leon had seven points, seven rebounds, and four steals for the Wildcatz (19-5, 9-3), who took second place behind champion Salinas (17-7, 11-1). Senior Fernanda Lazo had six points and eight rebounds.

The Wildcatz next compete in the CCS playoffs.

At Palma 49, Pajaro Valley 17 >> Karely Alverado scored a team-high 10 points in the Grizzlies PCAL Cypress Division loss Thursday.

The Grizzlies (4-18, 2-11) close their season at Santa Catalina (0-17, 0-12) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Women’s swimming

PCSC Championships >> Cal State University East Bay freshman Alexia Fajardo, an Aptos alumna, was part of two event wins on Day 2 of the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference Championships at East Los Angeles College on Thursday.

Fajardo took first in the 100-yard butterfly in 55.32. She also shined as the anchor leg in the 200 freestyle relay and the Pioneers won in 1:33.64.

UCSC’s Maddy Gruender took third in the 200 free (1:52.53) and Katy Hawk took eighth (1:57.48). Pezone took 23rd (1:57.33).

UCSC (Tereza Shea, Hawk, Gruender, and Kaitlyn Armstrong) took fourth in the 200 FR (1:36.09). Westmont sophomore Willow Pezone, an SLV alumna, helped the Warriors take eighth in 1:38.07.

The Banana Slugs (Medha Raghuraman, Lily Wolfinger, Kirsten Boyle, and Armstrong) took sixth in the 400 medley relay (3:55.08).

Boyle also took seventh in the 100 fly (56.93).

Biola junior Colette Friedley, an Aptos alumna, took seventh in the 400 IM (4:34.84), and UCSC’s Wolfinger took eighth in 4:34.86.

Men’s swimming

PCSC Championships >> UCSC’s Andrew Koika was part of two event wins on Day 2 of the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference Championships at East Los Angeles College on Thursday.

Koika, one of three Banana Slugs in the 100 butterfly ‘A’ final, took first in 48.95. UCSC’s Morgan Madril tied for second in 49.31, and teammate Bryson Schmid was eighth in 50.22.

Koika also teamed with Kyle Reitan, Charlie Hussain, and Adam Sinclair for the win in the 200 FR (1:20.66).

UCSC (Asher Kates, Karsten Hsiao, Madril, and Massimo Reyna) took third in the 400 medley relay (3:23.53).

Kates also took third in the 400 IM (4:01.23) and teammate Luke Scanlon took fifth in 4:03.88.

Reyna also took fifth in the 200 free (1:39.69).

UCSC’s Charlie Shortt took second in the 1-meter diving final (292.95 points), and his teammates Ben Thiem (247.15) and Trevor Masters (212.40) took fourth and fifth, respectively.