SYHS boys basketball shuts down Nipomo for first Sunset League win 

The Pirates boys soccer is off to a decent start in Sunset League play, gaining a win and a tie after a league-opening loss.

Santa Ynez traveled to St. Joseph on Jan. 14, where the teams played to a 3-3 tie. Vince Guerrero scored two goals in the first half, one a put-back shot after Marcos Rivera hit the crossbar, and the other off a corner kick that had been cleared by the St. Joseph defense, to give the Pirates a 2-1 halftime lead. Saint Joseph scored twice in the second half for the lead, but Rivera forced a tie, scoring came from a direct free kick.

Four days earlier, the Pirates earned their first league win by beating Atascadero 1-0. Guerrero had the lone goal in that one: Teammate Austin Willis sent a shot that hit the post, but Guerrero was in perfect position to knock it into the net, according to head coach Hector Garcia.

The Pirates, now 1-1-1 in the Sunset League, and 3-9-2 overall, next play Lompoc today (Tuesday) at home and travel to Templeton on Friday.

So far this season, Rivera is the team leader in goals with 5, with Jackson Elliott and Austin Willis having 4 apiece.

Boys basketball

The Pirates boys hoopsters had a big night in their league opener, shutting down host Nipomo 72-24 on Jan. 14. Jude Pritchard (15 points) and Mason Skidmore (14) scored in double figures, while Ikenna Ofiaeli had 7 points and 9 rebounds.

Jude Pritchard, seen in action earlier this season, and the Santa Ynez boys basketball will be on the road for three games before returning home to play Dunn on Jan. 29. Photo by Mike Chaldu

The win broke a two-game losing streak for Santa Ynez, who will travel to Morro Bay today for the first of three road games. The Pirates return home Jan. 29 for a game against Dunn.

Girls basketball

The SYHS girls basketball team have gotten off to a slow start in Sunset League, dropping their first two games of the league schedule.

Their latest was a 55-31 loss to San Luis Obispo on the Pirates’ court on Jan. 14. Lailani Ladera led SYHS with 8 pts, while Helina Pecile had 6 points and a team-high 12 boards.

SYHS opened the league schedule with a 49-30 loss at Cabrillo on Jan. 10. Pecile had 10 points, 5 boards, and 4 steals, while Kylie LaPointe and Lexi Molera had 7 points apiece.

With a record of 0-2 in the Sunset League and 9-7 overall, the Pirates played Lompoc last Friday (Jan. 17) and will play Paso Robles.

Girls soccer

The Pirate girls earned their first Sunset League win of the year with a 3-1 win over Cabrillo on the SYHS turf. Grace Vasquez was the Player of the Match with two goals. Isabella Rubio added another scored.

Santa Ynez, with a record of 1-1 in league and 5-5-1 overall played at Pioneer Valley on Friday, Jan. 17, and will go to Santa Maria on Tuesday, and return home against Lompoc on Thursday, Jan. 24.