Vincent Memorial High's Irene Aranda (left) grabs a rebound in between Warner High defenders Thursday in Calexico. (Joselito Villero) |
CALEXICO — The Vincent Memorial High School boys and girls basketball teams defended their Citrus East League titles here this week with impressive wins on the court.
The Lady Scots won league while improving to 18-4 Thursday night with a 75-30 dismantling of visiting Warner Springs High.
Meanwhile the boys of Vincent Memorial, who secured their league title Tuesday, continued to obliterate their opponents with a 69-32 victory over Warner Springs on Thursday.
“This year there is a good chance for both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to win the CIF championship, so you should be proud of these players,” Scots boys’ coach Pete Contreras said to the crowd Thursday night.
The boys’ basketball team played its brand of hoops to rousing success, utilizing a full- and half-court press that forced frequent turnovers, leading to multiple easy baskets.
Richie Murillo led the Scots past Warner Springs with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Willie Zepeda had 15 points, and Nico Soberanes added 12 points and five rebounds.
With the playoffs looming around the corner, Contreras elected to continue pressing in the second half using most of his starters, despite holding a commanding 45-12 lead.
“I hate to press so late; we’ve scored 100 three times this year, but it’s not because we’re running up the score,” Contreras said. “I have to keep them in shape for the playoffs.”
A win Monday at San Dieguito would catapult the Scots into either the first or second seed in CIF-San Diego Section Division V, giving Vincent Memorial a couple of home playoff games.
“We’ve got a good shot this year,” Contreras said. “This is probably the best team we’ve ever had here.”
Soberanes, a senior, was just one of the cornerstones this season’s Scots team was built upon over the past few years.
“It’s our sixth league championship in a row,” Soberanes said. “We’ve made our first step, and we’re very excited.
“We hope to do well in the playoffs, to keep on winning,” he said.
Thursday’s win solidified the fifth league title in a row for the Vincent Memorial girls, who were counted out by many at the beginning of the season.
“This one was good because no one expected us to win this year,” coach Juan Gonzalez said. “We’ve had a really good season.
“We lost four starters from a 20-win team last year, so a lot of people thought we would take a step down,” he said. “But we had really good chemistry this year.”
The Lady Scots lost twice to Calexico High by three points each time, and lost once to Imperial High.
“Those games have helped us get ready for the playoffs,” Gonzalez said of the games against Imperial Valley opponents. “We’re also looking forward to Monday’s game here against Southwest (High).”
One of the main reasons for girls’ basketball success at Vincent Memorial this year is junior Irene Aranda, who had 32 points, seven steals, and 10 assists against Warner Springs.
Aranda has averaged 25 points a game this season, and is the second leading scorer in Division V, as well as the 11th scorer in the state.
“We’re very proud because we worked very hard this season,” Aranda said. “We’ve worked since the summer, and I think that hard work paid off.
“Our goal is to get to the championship and it’s step-by-step,” she said. “We’re ready to start the playoffs.”
Senior Daniela Martinez, who scored 21 to go with 10 steals and seven assists Thursday night, agreed with her teammate.
“I think we’ve all done a great job,” she said. “We play as a team, and that’s why we play well.
“I’m looking forward to winning the CIF championship,” Martinez said. “I think we have a great opportunity to win this year, and I want to leave with that as a memory.”
The Lady Scots won league while improving to 18-4 Thursday night with a 75-30 dismantling of visiting Warner Springs High.
Meanwhile the boys of Vincent Memorial, who secured their league title Tuesday, continued to obliterate their opponents with a 69-32 victory over Warner Springs on Thursday.
“This year there is a good chance for both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to win the CIF championship, so you should be proud of these players,” Scots boys’ coach Pete Contreras said to the crowd Thursday night.
The boys’ basketball team played its brand of hoops to rousing success, utilizing a full- and half-court press that forced frequent turnovers, leading to multiple easy baskets.
Richie Murillo led the Scots past Warner Springs with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Willie Zepeda had 15 points, and Nico Soberanes added 12 points and five rebounds.
With the playoffs looming around the corner, Contreras elected to continue pressing in the second half using most of his starters, despite holding a commanding 45-12 lead.
“I hate to press so late; we’ve scored 100 three times this year, but it’s not because we’re running up the score,” Contreras said. “I have to keep them in shape for the playoffs.”
A win Monday at San Dieguito would catapult the Scots into either the first or second seed in CIF-San Diego Section Division V, giving Vincent Memorial a couple of home playoff games.
“We’ve got a good shot this year,” Contreras said. “This is probably the best team we’ve ever had here.”
Soberanes, a senior, was just one of the cornerstones this season’s Scots team was built upon over the past few years.
“It’s our sixth league championship in a row,” Soberanes said. “We’ve made our first step, and we’re very excited.
“We hope to do well in the playoffs, to keep on winning,” he said.
Thursday’s win solidified the fifth league title in a row for the Vincent Memorial girls, who were counted out by many at the beginning of the season.
“This one was good because no one expected us to win this year,” coach Juan Gonzalez said. “We’ve had a really good season.
“We lost four starters from a 20-win team last year, so a lot of people thought we would take a step down,” he said. “But we had really good chemistry this year.”
The Lady Scots lost twice to Calexico High by three points each time, and lost once to Imperial High.
“Those games have helped us get ready for the playoffs,” Gonzalez said of the games against Imperial Valley opponents. “We’re also looking forward to Monday’s game here against Southwest (High).”
One of the main reasons for girls’ basketball success at Vincent Memorial this year is junior Irene Aranda, who had 32 points, seven steals, and 10 assists against Warner Springs.
Aranda has averaged 25 points a game this season, and is the second leading scorer in Division V, as well as the 11th scorer in the state.
“We’re very proud because we worked very hard this season,” Aranda said. “We’ve worked since the summer, and I think that hard work paid off.
“Our goal is to get to the championship and it’s step-by-step,” she said. “We’re ready to start the playoffs.”
Senior Daniela Martinez, who scored 21 to go with 10 steals and seven assists Thursday night, agreed with her teammate.
“I think we’ve all done a great job,” she said. “We play as a team, and that’s why we play well.
“I’m looking forward to winning the CIF championship,” Martinez said. “I think we have a great opportunity to win this year, and I want to leave with that as a memory.”
