SOLEDAD — Soledad senior guard Beto Trujillo hit a game-winning free-throw to send the Pacific Grove Breakers to their first Mission Trail Athletic League loss of the season.
The 49-48 home victory on Friday helped the Aztecs improve to 3-3 in the MTAL and snapped an eight-game win streak by Pacific Grove and snapped a two-game losing streak to Peninsula teams by Soledad.
“We jumped out to 12-3 lead,” said Soledad head coach Nick Twitchell. “They (Breakers), came back and took 24-20 advantage into halftime. It was neck and neck from there. We were up three points late but missed several free-throws that could have iced the game. They missed a free-throw with seven seconds left, got the rebound, put it back to tie it. As we inbounded, Beto Tinajero shot from 70 fee and was fouled. With no time remaining, he made the first free-throw to win the game. It was fun. Crazy, but fun.”
Twitchell praised 6-6 center Billy Hollman for being the lead guy with 26 points. Trujillo added 10 points and Gabriel Burgoz was the third Aztec in double figures with 10 points.
The Aztecs are 3-3 in league and 6-10 overall. Soledad played at 1-3 Oakwood last night and host the Trinity Christian Warriors tomorrow night in the Soledad gym.
Soledad lost the JV contest, 47-39 as the Aztecs allowed the Breakers to shot 32 free-throws.
In the freshmen game the Aztecs defeated the Breaker frosh team, 32-26.
The top scorers for Soledad were Lorenzo Santistevan with 10 points, including three 3-point baskets made. Damian Mejia scored eight points, Johnny Carrillo had six points with one 3-point basket, and Alex Esparza added five points.
At last Tuesday’s game with the visiting Robert Louis Stevenson Pirates, the Aztecs were beaten 55-47. Hollman scored 12 points and Burgoz scored 11 points in the setback. The Pirates were led in scoring by Connor Olin’s 13 points and had two other players score in double figures.
Soledad won the JV game 51-46 with balanced scoring by Victor Phillips, Adrian De Anda, and Josiah Freeman.
The Soledad frosh beat the Pirates 46-26 with Robert Orozco, Joaquin Alvarez, and Johnny Carrillo as the leading scorers with six points apiece. Adrian Mellin contributed with five points.
Aztec frosh head coach, Auduro Mellin praised his players for their defense and rebounding against the Pirates.
“In the Stevenson game Robert Orozco grabbed some timely rebounds,” said Coach Mellin. “Our team played some lockdown defense.”
