Sobrato’s season ends with 63-28 loss in the second round of
CCS
SALINAS — From North Salinas’ stark height advantage to its immaculate record at home, the Sobrato girl’s basketball team held every disadvantage heading into Thursday’s second-round CIF-Central Coast Section playoff game.
After the No. 13-seeded Lady Bulldogs drew first blood, building a 10-7 lead, the No. 5 Vikings delivered the knockout: a 17-0 scoring run.
North Salinas outrebounded Sobrato 39-21 and put-backed its way to a 63-28 victory, advancing to the Division II quarterfinals.
The Tri County Athletic League co-champion Vikings (24-3 overall) completed a perfect 10-0 record at North Salinas High School.
“We threw everything we had at them,” Bulldogs senior center Gabi Gamez said. “They were probably the biggest team we’ve played this season.”
Boxing out the Vikings’ front court was only the beginning. Sobrato also had to deal with North Salinas’ plucky point guard, Edthel Lugo, who unleashed a game-high 16 points in less than three quarters of play.
Lugo made 5 of 8 from the floor.
“We were planning to box out and be aggressive,” Sobrato’s Shealyn Kunze said. “We didn’t do either. They were bigger and more aggressive than us.”
The Bulldogs, who placed fifth in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division, finished 14-13. They completed back-to-back trips to the second round of sectionals.
“It was a successful season for us,” Sobrato first-year coach Natalie Bobuk said. “They made it this far again, and we had a great second half of the season.
“We have a lot of talent coming back. I’m going to push them. If we can stay together as a team from now until next season, we can make it to this round again — maybe beyond.”
The Bulldogs received six points from two of their departing seniors, team co-captains Sarina Santiago and Michelle Bradley. Santiago also collected five steals and four rebounds, and Kunze, a junior, pulled down eight rebounds to go with six points. Courtney Sedlak came off the bench to add four points and three steals.
“We have a lot to work on together this summer,” Kunze added.
Sobrato looked sharp early in the first quarter, building its 10-7 lead off five takeaways. North Salinas started pounding the ball inside, though, and put together its back-breaking run.
Lugo, a four-year starter, scored five points in the final five minutes of the second quarter, as the Vikings built a 28-14 halftime lead.
“Tonight was just basketball for her,” North Salinas coach Darren Jackson said. “We wore them down with our defense, and (Lugo) was able to score some baskets down the stretch.”
Forwards Brionna Sullen and Bina Abbott finished with 11 points apiece, and Jasmin Rowland totaled nine points and five rebounds for the Vikings. Abbott completed a double-double with 13 rebounds.
“We weren’t boxing out as a team,” Gamez said. “Only a couple people were at a time.”
North Salinas extended its lead to 20 when Lugo buried a deep 3-pointer with 2:35 left in the third quarter. The Vikings padded their lead with 21 points in the fourth.
“I’m proud of how we didn’t give up,” Bobuk said. “They just kept shooting on us. It’s hard to look at the score like that, because I don’t think it’s indicative of the way we played. We weren’t shooting well. The score should have been closer.”
NOTE: North Salinas upset No. 4 Wilcox 43-32 Saturday and will meet top-seeded Archbishop Mitty in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Oak Grove High School.
