BREAKING: The Aptos High boys basketball team suffered a disappointing defeat, falling to Half Moon Bay 55-37 in the third-place game of the 12th Annual Aptos High/Santa Cruz Warriors NorCal Invitational at Kaiser Permanente Arena earlier today. This loss leaves the Mariners with a record of 4-8 as they look to regroup for their upcoming matchup.
In a game that saw Aptos trail significantly from the start, they were down 15-2 after the first quarter and 28-11 at halftime. Senior standout Gio Garduno-Martin led the Mariners with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. Junior Levi Race added 15 points, showcasing his talent despite the challenging circumstances.
Aptos did manage to cut their deficit to just 10 points early in the fourth quarter, raising hopes among fans. “I was proud of how we competed today against a tough opponent,” said Mariners coach Joseph Smith. “I thought we improved as a team over the course of the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Half Moon Bay’s Levi Meighan contributed 10 points to the Cougars’ victory, improving their record to 5-5. The tournament concluded with Willow Glen defeating Pioneer 63-58 in the championship game, while St. Mary’s of Stockton edged Los Gatos 76-73 for the consolation championship.
Individual honors were awarded, with Brayden Gumabo from Willow Glen named tournament MVP. Other notable all-tournament team selections included Garduno-Martin and Race from Aptos, alongside players from the other competing teams.
Looking ahead, Aptos will face off against Watsonville (3-5) on Friday at 7 p.m., aiming to bounce back and gain momentum in the season.
Stay tuned for further updates as the Mariners aim to turn things around in their next game.
