The Santa Cruz Warriors suffered another close defeat on Friday night, dropping a 130-126 decision to the San Diego Clippers at Kaiser Permanente Arena during NBA G League play. Despite center Charles Bassey delivering his 10th double-double of the season, the Warriors could not maintain an early nine-point advantage and ultimately fell short.
Off the bench, Hunter Sallis starred for the Clippers with a game-high 40 points and six rebounds across 35 minutes, leading San Diego to improve their record to 13-14. Bassey contributed 24 points and 18 rebounds for Santa Cruz, who now stand at 11-11.
Two-way guard Nate Williams led the Warriors with 26 points and added five assists. Additional scoring support came from center Marques Bolden with 22 points and six rebounds, alongside guard Chance McMillian’s 19 points and seven assists. Santa Cruz’s depth showed as forward Jacksen Moni added 15 points off the bench and reserve guard Deivon Smith chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
San Diego’s forwards Zach Freemantle and Norchad Omier also posted double-doubles, with Freemantle scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Omier finished with 13 points and a team-high 15 boards. Guard John Poulakidas led the Clippers’ secondary scoring group with 18 points, joined by forwards Jahmyl Telfort and Taylor Funk, each with 15 points, and guard Matt Allocco’s 11 points.
Upcoming Rematch Scheduled at Chase Center This Sunday
The two teams are set to meet again this Sunday at 1 p.m. in San Francisco’s Chase Center, offering the Warriors a chance to seek redemption on their home turf. This rivalry adds urgency for Santa Cruz after consecutive narrow losses, underscoring the significance of adjustments ahead of the rematch.
Christopher Newport Falls in Overtime Against UC Santa Cruz in Conference Tournament
In Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament action, No. 3 seed Christopher Newport University narrowly lost 77-74 in overtime to No. 2 seed UC Santa Cruz at the Banana Slugs’ home court Friday. Senior center and forward Joseph Espy had an impressive performance with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists but could not propel his team to victory.
UCSC’s sophomore guard Ben Lim scored 18 points, supported by Ollie Miller who contributed 12 points off the bench. Toa Hollenbeck led Christopher Newport’s scoring with 36 points, while senior wing Caden Breznikar and freshman guard Thomas Conley earned recent conference honors as Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year, respectively.
Espy was named to the conference’s first team for the second consecutive year, with senior forward Leo Wagner securing second-team honors. Christopher Newport will face top-ranked Mary Washington for the conference title and an automatic NCAA Division III Tournament bid Saturday at 5 p.m. at KP Arena.
Local High School Sports Highlights Include Baseball, Volleyball, and Soccer
High school athletics within the Santa Cruz region saw a mixture of results Friday as well. At Skyline High, the Seahawks fell 11-6 to Cabrillo, despite Jayson Schmeisser’s strong showing with four hits, one RBI, and a run scored. Pitcher Anthony Kabrich earned the win for the Trojans by allowing two runs over four innings, while Cabrillo’s Brady Liden took the loss after surrendering four runs in three innings. Cabrillo will face Solano next Monday at 2 p.m.
In baseball, Pacific Grove’s Pirates battled Harbor to a 4-4 tie. Aiden Boles and Sammy Harvey each recorded two hits for Pacific Grove, with Boles also scoring a stolen base and collecting a two-out RBI. However, Boles was tagged with the pitching loss after surrendering two earned runs in four innings of relief. Harbor is scheduled to host Overfelt on Saturday at 11 a.m.
On the volleyball court, Harbor earned its first win of the season with a decisive 4-0 sweep over Castilleja. Standouts included juniors Liberty Niesen and Cecile Novembre, who won the No. 1 spot 21-11, 21-15. Senior duos Coco Castro and Marina Tucker, as well as junior Dylan Schutz and sophomore Lise Corstorphine, all secured straight-set victories. The team will host Monterey on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., marking Monterey’s inaugural match in school history.
In soccer, Monte Vista Christian secured a nonleague victory over Sobrato, 13-5, propelled by Everett Olmsted’s four goals and two assists and Zach Binder’s four goals. Gabe Figliomeni added two goals to aid head coach George Paul Scheppler’s first win with the Mustangs. Monte Vista Christian will open Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division play on Thursday with a game at Salinas.
Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Prepares for Commissioner’s Transition
The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League announced it is seeking candidates to fill its commissioner role, with the new hire expected to begin by July 1. Mark Dorfman, the current commissioner and former longtime athletics director at Aptos High, is retiring after a lengthy tenure. Interested applicants can submit their information via EdJoin.com.
“Santa Cruz led in the first quarter but the Clippers steadily climbed back to claim the victory in a tightly contested game.”?Charles Bassey, Center, Santa Cruz Warriors
“Hunter Sallis stole the show with a remarkable 40-point performance off the bench to push San Diego ahead.”?Game Analyst, NBA G League
“We look forward to making adjustments and coming out stronger on Sunday at the Chase Center.”?Nate Williams, Two-way Guard, Santa Cruz Warriors
“It was a heartbreaker to lose in overtime, but our team fought hard throughout the tournament.”?Joseph Espy, Senior Center/Forward, UC Santa Cruz
Looking Forward: What the Future Holds for Santa Cruz Warriors and Regional Teams
The Santa Cruz Warriors’ narrow loss highlights ongoing challenges within the team’s pursuit of consistency during the NBA G League season, intensifying expectations ahead of their upcoming game against San Diego. Individual offensive bursts from players like Hunter Sallis and Charles Bassey showcase potential, though maintaining leads remains an area for improvement. Meanwhile, UC Santa Cruz’s deep tournament run, buoyed by standout players such as Joseph Espy and Ben Lim, positions them as strong contenders in the conference final against Mary Washington.
Local high schools continue to showcase emerging talent across multiple sports, with significant milestones including Harbor’s volleyball breakthrough and Monte Vista Christian’s triumphant soccer performance under new leadership. The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s transition in leadership signals an important moment for the region’s high school athletics, promising fresh perspectives moving forward.
