SOLEDAD — In a game for first place in the Mission Trail Athletic League the Soledad Aztecs played well but were unable to come home with a win against the host Robert Louis Stevenson Pirates. Stevenson’s Ambreece Gaskins scored 21 points to lead the Pirates to the 55-48 win.
“We didn’t capitalize when we should have,” said Soledad head coach Tatiana Rodriguez. “Ambreece Gaskins sat out the whole third quarter with four fouls and we couldn’t get our offense going and were settling for shots. Definitely a hard loss that I hope doesn’t come back to haunt us.”
Xenia Suarez led Soledad in scoring with 17 points and was joined in double figures by Theresa Chavez with 14 points and Daisy Bugarin with 13 points. Added points for the Lady Aztecs were: Jacky Saldana (six points); Desiree Mexicano (four points); Denise Virgen (two points); and Emily Tinajero (two points). Antonia Malate scored 11 points and Stephanie Dalhamer had a double-double for Stevenson with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“It was tough loss and snapped our six-game winning streak,” said Coach Rodriguez. “Our girls battled for four quarters and we did our best containing their shooters.”
The Soledad JV team beat the Pirates, 30-11. Destiny Ochoa led Soledad with 11 points and Lailah Sanchez-Vega had six points and eight rebounds.
Last Friday in Pacific Grove the Lady Aztecs defeated the host Pirates, 58-50. Suarez led Soledad in scoring with 17 points while teammates Chavez and Bugarin scored 14 points and 13 points respectively. Saldana scored six points and Mexicano finished with four points. Virgen and Tinajero added two points apiece for the Lady Aztecs.
“A great game,” said Coach Rodriguez. “We had three girls in double figures in scoring. The game came down to the final minutes and we were able to take over by converting our fastbreak for layups and we made crucial free-throws to give us the win.”
Soledad improved to 4-1 in the MTAL and 8-6 overall after the victory. The Lady Aztecs hosted the Gonzales High Spartans last night and travel to Monterey for a game with the Santa Catalina Cougars tomorrow night.
The Aztec JV was victorious over the Breakers, winning 28-26. Shelby Sitko led the team in scoring with 14 points. Destiny Ochoa had 10 points and Lailah Sanchez-Vega was the leading rebounder with 10 boards.
