SYHS boys and girls squads both bringing back vital players from last season
Santa Ynez High boys basketball coach Rod Caughell, starting the third year of his second stint in the position, said a sign his team’s depth for the 2024-25 season is how he’s running practices.
“I told my wife today it’s the first time in all my years here that I have been able to run a five-on-five scrimmage at practice,” Caughell said the day before the team’s season opener against Carpinteria. “I would be short because I had some players still in football season, and others who weren’t quite ready yet.
“However, this year, with the football players able to join us, and the team being able to play with 10 guys, it’s more than exciting.”
The Pirates got off on the right foot in their season opener at home on Nov. 22 as they defeated Carpinteria 68-63. Jude Pritchard, one of those players fresh off the gridiron, led all scorers with 27 points. Lucas Ollenburger had 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Luke Gianis added 10. SYHS followed that up with wins over Bishop Diego (86-69) on Nov. 27, and Eastside High of Lancaster (51-47) to get off to a 3-0 start.
Santa Ynez is coming off a 2023-24 season in which it made the second round of the CIF Central Section playoffs despite a 12-18 record, including an 0-8 record in the loaded Mountain League. However, this year the Pirates will be playing in the new Sunset League, along with Cabrillo, Morro Bay, Nipomo, and Righetti.
“Last year was tough; we really shouldn’t have been in that league, having to deal with St. Joseph, a highly ranked team in the state,” Caughell said. “And add to that a couple of strong teams in Arroyo Grande and Mission Prep, and it was tough having to battle in that league.
“In the Sunset, I think Righetti will be our main opponent, but every league game will be though. It not like anyone’s dominant.”
The Pirates will go into the season with plenty of experience. They will be returning their top three scorers from last year: Ikenna Ofiaeli, Pritchard, and Jayden Mendoza.
Caughell is looking at Ofiaeli, who was tops on the team with 13.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds, to be the focal point of the offense.
“I’m looking for the offense to go through Ikenna,” Caughell said. “He’ll get his touches in the paint, and I look for our guard to penetrate get him the ball.”
The Pirates expect Mason Skidmore and Alex Molera to split time at point guard, while Ollenburger is expected to contribute with points and rebounds.
The Pirates return to action Tuesday, Dec. 3, with a home game against Templeton. Sunset League play will start Jan. 7, 2025, with a game against visiting Mission Prep.
Lady Pirates start 4-1; win second place in SM Winter Tournament
Meanwhile, after a 52-17 win over Atascadero on Nov. 25, the Santa Ynez High girls basketball team is off to a great start at 4-1. Their early season action included a second-place finish at the Santa Maria Winter Tournament at Santa Maria High.
Like the boys team, Coach Jennifer Rasmussen’s squad is welcoming quite a few returning players, like Helina Pecile, Kylie LaPointe, and Rylin Agin, who were the Lady Pirates’ three top scorers last year.
“What’s been nice is that our junior core has been on varsity since they were freshman,” Rasmussen said after her team’s loss to San Luis Obispo in the Santa Maria tournament final. “So this is their third year playing together. It’s been great seeing them get that consistency, and they’re syncing and gelling on the court.”
SYHS went 3-1 in the Santa Maria tournament, which lasted from Thursday, Nov. 21, to Saturday, Nov. 23. The Lady Pirates beat, in order, Bishop Diego (61-29), Santa Maria (58-30), and Simi Valley (57-39) before losing to San Luis Obispo 46-36 in the title game.
Despite the loss, Rasmussen thought the title was a good experience to learn from for her team.
“We played against some tough defenses in the tournament, and especially SLO,” she said. “They were fast and they were tall, so we really were tested on our ability to make something happen and it was the first time we were playing from behind all weekend. So it was good.”
Pecile led SYHS with 13 points in the title game, while Agin, who hit double figures in all four of the tournament games, added 11. A couple standouts in the semifinal against Simi Valley were Lexi Molera, who led the team with 17 points, and LaPointe, who added 15.
SYHS is coming off a 2023-24 season which saw them go 8-0 in the Ocean League, and 18-7 overall, and reach the second round of the CIF playoffs.
This year, the Lady Pirates will move up from the Ocean to the Sunset League, along with Lompoc and Templeton, where they will join Cabrillo, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo.
“We’re excited for the competition,” Rasmussen said. “I think we’ve showed we can compete with the bigger schools in the area, and last year we didn’t have any blowouts, so that just showed how good the competition is in this area.”
