GIRLS BASKETBALL
In a busy three game week the Pacheco girls basketball team looked to lock up a playoff berth as the second seeded team in the WAC. Monday night the Johansen Vikings (12-14 overall, 5-7 WAC) traveled to the Brett Lee Gym to test their luck against the Panthers. Junior Jeanette Ortiz would lead the scoring for Pacheco with 15 points en route to a convincing 42-27 victory. Sophomore Nikki Nance (9 points, 14 rebounds) and senior Bianca Trujillo (8 points) would contribute to the win.
Tuesday brought Ceres to face the Panthers in a battle of teams competing for second place. The Panthers would jump out to a convincing 32-14 lead at halftime in what looked to be a rout in the big match up. Ceres (14-11 overall, 7-5 WAC) showed why they are one of the top teams in the WAC, outscoring Pacheco 34-21 in the second half to close the final score to a five point decision, 53-48. Ortiz would once again lead the Panthers with 21 points, joined by Nance (15 points) and sophomore Sophia Lowery (10 points).
Playing their third game of the week at home, Pacheco (17-9 overall, 10-2 WAC) hosted the Beyer Patriots (7-14 overall, 4-7 WAC) on Thursday. The matchup would be one sided the entire evening as the host Panthers cruised to a 58-24 victory. The Panthers currently sit at 21 in the Sac-Joaquin Section rankings for Division 2 on Maxpreps. They have clinched a playoff berth as one of the top three teams in the WAC but hope to move up the rankings in an effort to host another playoff game this season.
GIRLS SOCCER
Tuesday evening league power Beyer (19-2-1 overall, 11-1-1 WAC) came to Veterans Stadium looking to keep pace with Central Valley atop the WAC standings. They got more than they expected from the host Panthers (6-10-7 overall, 2-8-3 WAC). Behind a solid defensive effort, Pacheco earned a hard fought 0-0 tie to knock the Patriots out of a first place tie in league. The tie was the first time in school history the Panthers didn’t lose to the Patriots.
Thursday was senior night at Veteran’s Stadium as Jazmin Guardado, Ayvah Chapman and Elizabeth Perkins were honored in a pregame ceremony. Taking on Grace Davis (6-13-3 overall, 6-5-2 WAC) the Panthers went down two scores early before falling 3-1. The lone Panther goal was scored by Chapman on an assist from freshman Natalie Oviedo. Looking to finish their best season in school history the girls conclude the season on Tuesday traveling to Livingston.
BOYS SOCCER
With slim hopes as the week started of competing for a league title, Pacheco looked to solidify their hold on a playoff berth in the extremely tough WAC boys soccer league. Six teams from the eight team league could potentially make the post season so every victory would be important as the season wraps up. Tuesday saw the team visit Beyer (1-16 overall, 1-12 WAC) who was looking to play spoiler. Pacheco would remain focused scoring a 4-0 victory keeping them within striking distance of first place Lathrop.
On Thursday, Pacheco (10-3-6 overall, 8-1-4 WAC) would travel to Grace Davis (2-17 overall, 1-12 WAC) in a mismatch on paper. The Spartans would give Pacheco all they could handle as the game ended in a 3-3 tie. However, it was later learned that a player for Davis took part in both the JV and Varsity game, resulting in a forfeit win for the Panthers. Coupled with an upset victory by Central Valley over Lathrop, Pacheco enters Tuesday’s senior night game against Livingston in a tie for first place.
WRESTLING
With the regular season complete, Pacheco’s wrestlers took their sights on the individual postseason at the WAC championships last weekend. The team traveled to Ceres where the top four in each weight class would advance to this weekend’s Division 4 tournament to be hosted by Pacheco High.
The girls team would crown two league champions while qualifying four athletes and one alternate. Senior Paola Martinez would earn all league at the 112 weight class while senior Melaya Soto would earn her second WAC championship at the 172 weight class. Also moving on to Divisionals were senior Dakota Butler at 157 and freshman Valentina Tellez. Sophia Helfin’s fifth place finish places her on the alternate list.
Pacheco’s boys will send four athletes to the Divisional tournament with three on the alternate list. The Panthers lone champion came at the 108 weight class in two time champion Dominick Hurst. Also advancing were Christian Bravo at 122, Rey Rivas at 146 and Dominic Melgoza at 217. Listed as alternates if needed for this weekend were Aiden Campos, Abraham Almanza and Raul Lopez.
