SOUTH COUNTY — Basketball balls will be flying through the air on Friday as local teams take part in the South County high school basketball tournaments at King City High School for the boys and Gonzales High for the girls.
The Gonzales High boys team will participate in the tournament although they will be playing in the Coastal Division of the Mission Trail Athletic League this season. The change in league includes playing a 12-game schedule instead of the MTAL 14-game schedule.
“We are looking forward to playing in the Coastal Division,” said Spartan head coach Ruben Alvarado. “Our program could have success in that league and that is important with the young teams we will field.”
This Saturday the Gonzales boys and girls basketball will play alumni games in the Roger Fernando Gym in Gonzales. The girls game will start at 5 pm followed by the boys. On Monday, Nov. 20, the Gonzales varsity boys team will play the Soledad High Aztecs in Soledad at 7 pm in a Sportmanship game.
Returning to coach boys basketball in South County high schools are Alvarado at Gonzales; Nick Twitchell at Soledad; Efren Dominguez at Greenfield; and Jesus Ramirez at King City.
Gonzales High has a new head basketball for the girls this season as Felicia Villarruel will be guiding the Lady Spartans this year. Villarruel was a perennial All-League player in basketball for Soledad High and played at Monterey High School and San Francisco State University.
At Soledad High Tatiana Rodriguez returns to coach the Aztecs, John Radcliff is the Greenfield Bruins head coach, and Frank Padilla will return to coach the King City Lady Mustangs after a year away from the game.
