Story and Photos By Jondi Gumz
Senior Nick Tovani was everywhere on the floor scoring at will in the CCS Division III quarterfinal at home as the No. 1 ranked Aptos Mariners defeated No. 8 Pioneer, 57-41.
Aptos Coach Brian Bowyer shares words of wisdom.
He led all scorers with 21.
Senior Isaiah Ackerman scored 17, and Damien Matlow 6.
Ryan Solorio, Owen Warmerdam and Carter Keith each added 3.
The name of the game was defense, and as the first quarter ended, the teams were tied 15-15.
The Mariners tightened up to keep Pioneer’s Mustangs off balance, repeatedly stealing the ball and grabbing rebounds when the Mustang 3s fell short, and shooting 3s themselves.
And the Mariners stayed out of foul trouble.
By halftime, Aptos was up 32-22.
In the third quarter, Mustang No. 22 fell hard and limped off the floor, limiting the Pioneer offense.
The win gave Aptos a new opponent for Thursday’s semifinal, No. 4 Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco (10-15) and eighth place in the powerful West Catholic League, victor over Saratoga, 87-74.
SHC is led by sophomore Kiran Tate-Day, who leads in points, steals and assists.
How far can the Mariners go?
Can Santa Cruz earn their way into the final?
That remains to be seen.
The final was scheduled for Saturday, March 1.
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League Champs & Tourney Champs!
Aptos Mariners, undefeated in league, sailed away with the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League crown and then topped the rival Cardinals to earn the tourney championship.
With their 10-0 league record and 23-4 overall and a13-game win streak, they were seeded No. 1 in the Central Coast Section playoffs Tuesday.
Winning Mariners: Victor Avalos, Quinn Billings, Gabe Castillo, Sean Mullen, Caden Bogle, Zen Weaver, Owen Warmerdam, Demian Matlow, Diego Mejia, Carter Keith, Ryan Solorio, Nick Tovani, Isaiah Ackerman, Sam Penera, Jack Tovani, Levi Race, Zane Matlow.
They hosted No. 8 Pioneer (10-14) at 7 p.m. for the quarterfinal.
Santa Cruz (8-2 league and those losses were to Aptos and 15-11 overall) in the same division is ranked No. 5.
Defense has been the key to success for the Mariners, but they have guys who hit 3s, score layups and make putbacks.
With 6-foot-4 Isaiah Ackerman, who has scored 1,000 points in his high school career, 6-foot-8 Owen Warmerdam and 6-foot Nick Tovani, they dominate when it comes to rebounds.
Coach Brian Bowyer is in his ninth year.
The team’s motto is “All in, all the time.”
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TOP PHOTO: Nick Tovani, on a fast break, going all in.