APTOS, CA — Team ball.
That expression often gets thrown around a lot but for the Aptos High boys basketball team it came to fruition Tuesday night in a big early season Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League game against visiting Santa Cruz.
Junior guard Cole Rothman led four different Mariners who scored in double digits with 15 points and Dante Gomez added eight points, 10 rebounds and three steals as Aptos improved remained unbeaten in league play with a 58-49 victory.
“It was a defensive effort and the whole team played well,” said Rothman. “Everybody plays for each other and we played as a team tonight. It was about weathering the storm they are a great team we had to battle. With them it always comes down to the fourth quarter and we made our run.”
Along with Rothman, Nemo Howe (12), Ben Dorfman (11) and Jonah Gonzales (10) each scored in double digits in the win.
Dorfman added seven rebounds and three steals and Gonzales led Aptos with five assists in the win for the Mariners.
“I thought our defensive intensity in the second half was outstanding,” said Aptos coach Joe Smith. “Our guys competed really hard and executed well and made some big shots that enabled up to build our lead in the fourth quarter.”
After allowing 31 points and going into halftime trailing Santa Cruz by two the Mariners really stymied the Cardinals by holding them to only 18 points in the second while scoring 29 themselves.
Leading the way defensively was 6-foot-3 senior forward Gomez, who held his own against 6-foot-7 center Oscar Mahoney while also contributing a big role offensively for Aptos.
“We spread the ball around and not play selfish and get the best shot we can on every possession,” said Gomez. “It’s very important to beat them because they are always up there in league. It’s good to get this one and make sure we don’t lose to anybody in the league.”
Santa Cruz (9-5, 1-2) came into the contest needing a win following a tough 48-45 loss to St. Francis Central Coast Catholic on Friday and needing a victory to not fall two games back of both the Sharks and the Mariners so early in league play.
First-year Cardinals coach Lawan Milhouse said his team just didn’t play the second half necessary to beat a team as good as Aptos.
“In the second half we stopped running and that’s the type of team we are,” said Milhouse who was the Cardinals’ junior varsity coach last season. “When we allow a team to dictate what we do in the second half we are not the same team and that’s what they did. They slowed the game down and that’s their bread and butter.”
Smith wants his team to enjoy this victory over the reigning SCCAL champion Cardinals but knows they have to get back to work as soon as possible.
“It was nice to see them get rewarded with a victory against a quality opponent like Santa Cruz,” said Smith of his team. “We can’t look ahead. We got to come back at practice tomorrow and get ready for SLV.”
Aptos (12-4, 3-0) visits SLV Friday at 7 p.m.
The Cardinals returned leading scorer Kaijae Yee-Stephens who missed Friday’s game against St. Francis CCC with an injured left shoulder.
Yee-Stephens — who came into the contest averaging shade under 21 points per game — was held to 11 points but the senior added nine rebounds and five assists for the Cardinals.
“The first half we had high energy and were ready to play,” he said. “But as the second half went on we were dragging. I just think we got tired.”
In all Santa Cruz only used six players in the game.
Senior Kiree Hutchings led the Cardinals with 18 points while Keanon Williams added 11 points and four steals and Mahoney chipped in with six points and six rebounds in the loss.
Santa Cruz’s hopes to repeat as SCCAL champions aren’t completely dashed but the Cardinals know that in order to get back in the race they have a tough road up ahead.
“Can we run the table? Yes. Do I feel like we have to run the table? Yes,” said Milhouse. “Can we? That’s up to the gentlemen in the locker room but I feel we can run the table. With two losses, there’s no room for error.”
Santa Cruz will have six days to prepare for its next game before visiting San Lorenzo Valley next Monday on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.
SLV 63, Scotts Valley 47
Derek McCuiston led all scorers with 16 to lead SLV over rival Scotts Valley 63-47. Shaden Pias added 13 points for SLV (7-6, 1-1) while Tanner Spence led Scotts Valley (6-9, 0-3) with 13 points, while Joseph Espinola added 12 points and Alex Vucinich 11.
