Acorns, Bulldogs hoping to buck losing trends
MORGAN HILL — The Live Oak boy’s soccer team came as close as possible to playing the role of spoiler Thursday against Willow Glen.
The first-place Rams escaped Morgan Hill with a 1-0 victory, though, getting a late goal in the second half. They moved to 11-1-3 overall and 8-1-1 in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
Willow Glen has not lost a match since Jan. 13.
Live Oak (5-6-4 overall, 2-4-3 BVAL) was vying to snap a five-game winless streak heading into Tuesday’s 3:15 p.m. showdown against cross-town rival Sobrato.
Coaches were not available for comment.
The Bulldogs (7-7-2, 4-5-1) won the previous meeting this year — 2-1 — and are also hoping to get back into the win column following a tough stretch. Sobrato lost an early lead on the way to falling 3-2 Thursday against Leland (7-8, 3-7).
The visiting Chargers scored all of their goals in the second half, getting tallies from Gabe Chavez, Jonathan Chavez and Spencer Haar. Gabe Chavez and Haar also had assists.
Thomas Torres netted his 16th goal of the season for Sobrato, and Luis Negrete added his first. Arturo Ceja and Jovani Franco had assists for the Bulldogs, who also got eight saves from Simon Schmidt. Sobrato led 1-0 at halftime.
The Bulldogs have lost four straight.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Sobrato ends tough road stretch with loss
After three consecutive games away from home, the Sobrato Lady Bulldogs will have a brief stop at home this week — and what better time?
Sobrato is in a tight section playoff hunt and needs to hoard as many wins as possible during its final six games. The Bulldogs were hampered by a 56-29 loss at Santa Teresa on Thursday.
“We’ve had a rough couple of weeks, but they’re starting to look like they’re ready to play,” said Sobrato coach Natalie Bobuk, whose team is four wins from being playoff eligible. “We have to play our game and reduce our turnovers; just work on the little things from here.”
Courtney Sedlak scored a team-high 11 points, and Melissa Cachopo and Shealyn Kunze added six apiece for the Bulldogs (11-8 overall, 3-5 BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division). Teammate Gabi Gamez had nine rebounds to go with two points.
Madison Sanders-Curry scored 18 points to lead Santa Teresa (12-6, 6-2).
Sobrato will host Prospect at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Overfelt nips LO again
Less than a month after edging Live Oak by two, Overfelt nipped the Lady Acorns again Thursday in San Jose, winning 48-43.
Niki Patel scored 11 points, Sarah Mesa added 10 and Ariana Guerrero netted nine for Live Oak, which fell to 1-16 overall and 1-7 in the BVAL-West Valley Division.
Jessica Celeste scored 19 to lead the Royals (11-7, 5-3).
The Acorns visit Lincoln today before hosting Independence on Thursday.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Magic number remains five for Acorns
Live Oak’s playoff hopes are running thin.
The Acorns opened the second half of BVAL-West Valley Division play with a 66-57 loss to Branham on Friday, and now must win five of their remaining six games to secure postseason eligibility.
The host Bruins (6-13 overall, 4-4 BVAL), who beat Live Oak (6-13, 2-6) by five earlier this season, broke away early with 20 points in the first quarter.
The Acorns will visit Lincoln on Wednesday.
WRESTLING
Bulldogs rout Lincoln, will host Leigh Tuesday
Sobrato kept its division title hopes alive with another rout.
Bryon Gomes (103 pounds), Kyle Shelton (112), Joseph Redmond (125), Pierce Lobban (135), Maycen Gillespie (145), Ryan Brewer (152) and Brandon Maack (171) scored pins Thursday, and the Bulldogs cruised to a 56-18 victory over Lincoln in BVAL-Santa Teresa Division competition.
Sobrato (4-1 BVAL), which remained in second place, also got decisions by Riley Bell (119) and Rafael Anaya (189).
The Bulldogs will host Leigh for senior night at 7 p.m. Tuesday, hoping to keep pace with division front-runner Piedmont Hills.
Sobrato was coming off a big weekend in the Dawn ‘Til Dusk tournament in Marin. Despite having only 10 guys, the Bulldogs placed fifth out of 30 schools. Six Sobrato wrestlers placed, including Shelton (fourth, 103), Redmond (third, 119), Brewer (third, 152), Anaya (third, 189), Brandon Pham (seventh, 140) and Gustavio Ramirez (fifth, heavyweight).
“The rest of our guys were one win from placing,” Sobrato coach Phil Luna said. “It turned out to be a pretty good weekend for us. Everyone wrestled well. We’re ready to end the season strong.”
