The Aptos Mariners entered their tilt with the Santa Cruz Cardinals with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. In a tight match that could have gone either way, Aptos made off with a 46-45 win over Santa Cruz. The victory was all the more spectacular given Aptos' disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 280th, while Santa Cruz is ranked 126th).
Aptos got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Isaiah Ackerman out in front who scored 13 points along with eight rebounds and five steals. Another player making a difference was Mateo Calfe, who scored 12 points along with five rebounds and two steals.
Loss or not, Santa Cruz got some senior leadership from Ben Dotten and Demeke Smith. Dotten scored 14 points along with seven rebounds and two steals, while Smith. scored ten points along with five rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Kirby Seals, who almost dropped a double-double on nine points and 12 rebounds.
Aptos has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight games, which provided a nice bump to their 16-7 record this season. As for Santa Cruz, their defeat ended a six-game streak of away wins and brought them to 18-5.
Aptos will be playing at home against Harbor at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Aptos is coming into the matchup with four straight wins at home, so Harbor is out to stop a squad with plenty of momentum. Santa Cruz will take on San Lorenzo Valley at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
