Scotts Valley senior guard Kaleb Miller is fouled as he drives between San Lorenzo Valley’s Kai Groleau and Asher Dollinger to score for the Falcons on Tuesday in the CCS D-IV quarterfinals. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
SCOTTS VALLEY — Jack Fletcher was one of four Scotts Valley High basketball players to reach double digits in scoring, and the No. 4 seed Falcons beat No. 5 San Lorenzo Valley 64-54 in the teams’ Central Coast Section Division IV quarterfinal Tuesday night.
Fletcher, a senior forward, scored eight points in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-high 22 points. Senior center Lance Ultsch scored 15 points, senior guard Kaleb Miller scored 13 and senior guard Daniel Sullivan scored 11.
“A bit of a slow start, which we kinda do every game, but we got in a rhythm,” Fletcher said. “Everyone was just swinging the ball and we didn’t make as many turnovers as in the past, so that really helped our team.”
The Falcons play at No. 1 Sacred Heart Prep (13-7) in the Thursday’s semifinals at 7 p.m.
The Gators stomped No. 9 Harker 86-42 in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
Scotts Valley High sophomore Tristan Roure keeps the defensive pressure on SLV’s Michael Kelly as he puts up a shot on Tuesday in the CCS D-IV quarterfinals. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
SLV freshman Kai Groleau extends to put up a shot in the paint against Scotts Valley in the CCS D-IV quarterfinals on Tuesday. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High seniorLance Ultsch, center, controls a rebound on Tuesday during the Falcons’ Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinal victory over San Lorenzo Valley. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley senior guard Kaleb Miller is fouled as he drives between San Lorenzo Valley’s Kai Groleau and Asher Dollinger to score for the Falcons on Tuesday in the CCS D-IV quarterfinals. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Jack Fletcher and San Lorenzo Valley's Vincent Verutti wait for a possible rebound in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Kaleb Miller puts up a shot against San Lorenzo Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Daniel Sullivan looks to pass while defended by San Lorenzo Valley's Michael Kelly in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley's Michael Kelly drives against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High defeated San Lorenzo Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Jack Fletcher looks to pass while defended by San Lorenzo Valley's Kai Gorleau in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Jack Fletcher and San Lorenzo Valley's Rider Saunders wait for a rebound attempt in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Kai Groleau drives on Scotts Valley's Daniel Sullivan in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Kai Groleau battles for a loose ball against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Michael Kelly fires off a shot against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Kai Groleau drives for a layup against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Jack Fletcher pulls down a rebound as San Lorenzo Valley's Vincent Verutti (40) watched in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High defeated San Lorenzo Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Jack Fletcher dribbles as San Lorenzo Valley's Michael Kelly defends in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Jack Fletcher shoot over San Lorenzo Valley's Vincent Verutti in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Kai Groleau defends against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Asher Dollinger drives against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Jack Gross is surrounded by Scotts Valley's defense in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Lance Ultsch goes up for a layup against San Lorenzo Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Lance Ultsch goes up for a rebound against San Lorenzo Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's Vincent Verutti, left, goes up for a rebound against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
San Lorenzo Valley High's J.J. Jackman dribbles against Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley High's Daniel Sullivan drives against San Lorenzo Valley in the Central Coast Section D-IV quarterfinals Tuesday night.(Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Deadlocked at 14-all after the first quarter, the Falcons outscored the Cougars 20-8 in the second quarter for a 34-22 lead at the break. SLV rallied in the third and got within a point on two occasions, 36-35 and 38-37, before the Falcons closed the quarter strong for a 48-39 lead entering the fourth.
The Falcons pushed their lead to 14 points early in the fourth, 53-39, and coasted to the win.
Scotts Valley played the at SLV in an exhibition to open the season and knowledge of the Cougars’ shooters helped the cause. The Falcons’ perimeter defense forced the Cougars to take contested shots from beyond the arc and they finished with a low shooting percentage from long range.
“I think the guys identified the shooters and they closed out on them,” Falcons coach Mike Pasquini said. “Got in there faces, ran by them. I mean the kids have been preparing for that, They know these kids.”
Junior Michael Kelly made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Cougars (13-3), champion of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s B Division. Freshman Kai Groleau scored 15 points for SLV and senior Vincent Verutti added eight points.
“We couldn’t hit anything,” Groleau said. “We played hard though and we fought til the end.”
No. 1 Santa Cruz 55, No. 8 Monterey 45
SANTA CRUZ — Sophomore forward Aden Cury made seven free throws and finished with a team-high 13 points to help the Cardinals win their D-III quarterfinal Tuesday.
The Cardinals (18-0) host No. 5 Jefferson (7-3) of Daly City in the semifinals on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. No. 3 Saratoga (10-6) plays at No. 2 Burlingame (9-4) in the other semifinals.
The Grizzlies edged No. 4 Live Oak 59-58 in their quarterfinal game Tuesday.
Senior center Jack Busenhart scored 11 points for the Cardinals and Kosi Warren-House added 10 points.
No. 2 Burlingame 60, No. 7 Aptos 40
BURLINGAME — The Mariners (7-6) saw their season come to a close with a 20-point loss in the D-III quarterfinals Tuesday night.
THE SCORES
CCS Boys Basketball Tuesday’s quarterfinals
D-III: At No. 2 Burlingame 60, No. 7 Aptos 40
D-III: At No. 1 Santa Cruz 55, No. 8 Monterey 45
D-IV: At No. 4 Scotts Valley 64, No. 5 SLV 54
UP NEXT
CCS Boys Basketball Thursday’s semifinals
D-III: No. 5 Jefferson (7-3) at No. 1 Santa Cruz (17-0), 7:30 p.m.
D-IV: No. 4 Scotts Valley (10-8) at No. 1 Sacred Heart Prep (13-7), 7 p.m.
