Santa Cruz rallies past OKC, earns G League win

LOCAL ROUNDUP

Watsonville, SV win Central Coast Section basketball openers

Watsonville High’s Max Aceves makes a layup against North Salinas’ Angel Lizaola during the first round of the CCS Division I basketball playoffs in Watsonville on Friday.

Watsonville High’s Leon Madec looks to score against North Salinas’ Christian Rodarte during the first round of the CCS D-I basketball playoffs in Watsonville on Friday. PHOTOS BY RAUL EBIO — SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL

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By Jim Seimas

jseimas@santacruzsentinel.com

Forward Blake Hinson produced another 30-plus points outing, and the Santa Cruz Warriors rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Blue, 113-103, in their NBA G League game at Kaiser Permanente Arena on Friday night.

Hinson followed up his career-high 42-point outing in his last game with a game-high 32 points and eight rebounds to pace the Warriors (12-7). Two-way forward Jackson Rowe, who competed in the NBA G League Up Next Game over NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Donta Scott had 17 points and five rebounds, and guard Marcus Burk chipped in with 12 points.

The Blue (9-11) were led in scoring by guard/forward Buddy Boeheim and guard Logan Johnson, who secured 20 points each. Johnson also had seven rebounds and five assists. Forward Malevy Leons finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, and center Noah Starkey grabbed 18 rebounds and scored seven points. Guard Cormac Ryan scored 13 points after coming off the bench.

The teams square off again at KP Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Boys basketball

At Watsonville 81, North Salinas 55 >> Junior guard/wing Leon Madec scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half, and the No. 10 Wildcatz won their CCS Division I first-round game Friday.

Guard Max Aceves scored 17 points for the Wildcatz (18-7), co-champion of the PCAL’s Mission Division.

Watsonville led 42-30 at the half. Wildcatz forward Anthony Razo scored 11 points, and guard George Madec added 10 points.

Senior David Jauregui scored eight points to lead the Vikings (12-13), who tied for third place in the PCAL’s Cypress Division.

Watsonville plays at No. 7 Homestead (20-4), the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s El Camino Division champion, in the second round on Saturday at 7 p.m.

At Scotts Valley 55, Stevenson 43 >> Senior wing Taylor Knox scored a game-high 21 points, and the No. 9 seed Falcons won their CCS Division IV first round game Friday.

Senior guard Will Shilling scored nine of his 13 points in the first quarter, which helped the Falcons, who tied for third in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, jump out to a 14-6 lead. Senior center Jacob Sanders scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. Senior guard Zach Shilling finished with 10 points.

Stevenson pulled within five with three minutes remaining, but Zach Shilling hit a 3-pointer and Sanders made a tip-in dunk to cap scoring.

Junior Cooper Olin scored 13 points to lead the Pirates. Senior teammate Kekoa Williams had 12 points, eight rebounds, and five steals.

Scotts Valley plays at Jefferson (12-12), the sixth-place finisher in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division, in the second round on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Girls basketball

Design Tech 56, SLV 30 >> Junior center Poppy Owens scored a team-high 11 points, but the unseeded Cougars were eliminated in the first round of the CCS D-IV playoffs on Friday.

Freshman guard Taylor Kievlan scored seven points for the Cougars (9-14), the fifth-place finisher in the SCCAL.

Senior guard Jewel Wilson scored a game-high 19 points to lead the No. 11 seed Dragons (15-6), the third-place finisher in the Private School Athletic League’s Bay Division. Senior guard Emerson LaPedis added 12 points.

The Dragons play at No. 6 Sacred Heart Prep (9-14) in Saturday’s second round in Atherton at 7 p.m.

Men’s basketball

At Hartnell 74, Cabrillo 71 >> Freshman forward Dai’shaun Buie scored 30 points, but the short-handed Seahawks coughed up the lead late and dropped their Coast Conference South Division finale Friday.

The Seahawks, who suited up seven players, led by eight points with 3 minutes remaining, but ran out of gas.

Sophomore forward Cullen Cleaves scored 15 points for the Seahawks (15-13, 7-5), who finished in third place behind West Valley (25-3, 12-0) and San Jose City (22-6, 10-2). Sophomore guard Max Parmigiani added 10 points.

Three freshmen led the Panthers (5-23, 4-8), who finished in fifth place. Finn Powelson scored 21 points, Ty McUne scored 20, and Suhieb Ibrahim added 10 points.

Seeding for the NorCal Regional playoffs take place Sunday.

Women’s basketball

At Hartnell 65, Cabrillo 58 >> Freshman forward Gabby Brooks made four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 26 points, but the Seahawks dropped their Coast Conference South Division finale Friday.

Sophomore guard Jade Crum scored 14 points for the Seahawks (18-10, 6-4), who finished in third place behind San Jose City (26-2, 10-0) and Hartnell (17-11, 7-3). Sophomore forward Renee Parker scored all 11 of her points in the second half.

Sophomore guard Sarai Wheeler made six 3s and finished with a team-high 24 points for the Panthers. Sophomore center Hanna Harvey, an MVC alumna, scored 12 points. Freshman guard Bailey Cotter scored 11 points.

Seeding for the NorCal Regional playoffs take place Sunday.

College baseball

At Cabrillo 11, De Anza 4 >> Jayson Schmeisser had three hits, four RBI, and scored twice in the Seahawks’ nonconference win Friday.

Truett Ross had three hits, including a double and triple, two RBI, and scored a run for the Seahawks (4-8), who bounced back from a 2-1 loss to visiting San Mateo on Thursday.

Kaiden Hoapili and Adrian Castaneda each had two hits for Cabrillo. Hoapili had three RBI and scored a run, and Castaneda had drove in one run and scored three times.

Anders Page-Roth pitched seven innings for the win. Jack Harper threw five innings and took the loss.

Cabrillo plays at Los Medanos (3-7) in Pittsburg on Saturday at 1 p.m.

College softball

Cabrillo picks up first win >> The Seahawks picked up their first win of the season to earn a split in their nonconference doubleheader against visiting Reedley on Friday.

The Seahawks lost 12-3 in five innings and won 6-5.

Charileen Pauneto had three hits, including a triple, and four RBI in Cabrillo’s win. Brisea Rivera had two hits, one RBI, and scored twice. Bella Fromel had two hits and a run scored, and Morgan DeVillires had two hits and one RBI.

Ava Servin picked up the win for Cabrillo.

Fromel and Cameron Llamas each had two hits and a run scored in the loss.

Cabrillo (1-12-1) hosts Butte (1-7-1) in a nonconference doubleheader on Feb. 28 at 1 and 3 p.m.