SC’s Jones invited to AmeriCup team trials
Wing led Cardinal to NCAA D-I title
Fresh off a spectacular sophomore season for NCAA champion Stanford University, Santa Cruz’s Haley Jones has been selected to participate in team trials for USA Basketball Women’s AmeriCup.
Jones, a guard/forward, and 19 other top collegians will compete for a spot on the team from Monday to Wednesday at University of South Carolina.
Stanford guard Haley Jones, a Santa Cruz native, drives up court ahead of Arizona guard Bendu Yeaney during the NCAA Championship April 4 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. (Morry Gash — The Associated Press) Invitations to the trials were issued by the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee and USA Women’s Senior National Team Committee.
Jones helped Team USA win gold at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup in Belarus.
Ten nations from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean will take part in the 2021 AmeriCup, held June 1119 in Puerto Rico. The top four finishing teams will advance to compete in one of four 2022 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments in hopes of earning one of the 12 spots in the 2022 FIBA World Cup field.
Australia, host of the 2022 World Cup, and the 2020 Olympic champion, earn automatic berths to the World Cup, but will be required to participate in the qual-
ifying process.
Girls basketball
APTOS 61, ST. FRANCIS 17 >> Jasmine Ackerman had 23 points, eight rebounds and six blocks as the defending SCCAL champion Mariners won their league opener Wednesday.
Jaylen Dang had 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists for the Mariners and teammate Grace Parry added 10 points.
Isabella Sumano scored seven points for the Sharks, who play at Santa Cruz on Thursday and host Kirby on Friday. Both games start at 7 p.m. SANTA CRUZ 56, PA JAR O VALLEY 18>> Isabella O’ Donnell had 12 points,11 steals and eight blocked shots and the Cardinals won their SCCAL opener Wednesday. Bella Stevens scored 23 points with three 3-pointers.
Boys basketball
SCOTTS VALLEY 64, AT SLV 50 >> Guard Kaleb Miller scored a game-high 31 points with five 3-pointers to help the Falcons win their SCCAL opener Wednesday.
Guard Lance Ultsch scored 18 for the Falcons and teammate Jack Fletcher added 13.
Junior guard Asher Dolinger scored 29 points with five 3-pointers for SLV and teammate Kai Groleau added 11 points.
Girls golf
SCOTTS VALLEY 124, APTOS 161 >> Candus Shi shot even-par 23 over six holes at DeLaveaga Golf Course on Wednesday to help the Falcons knock off the Mariners. Elana McGrew (25), Lola Caallenor (36) and Hanna McKibbet (40) also scored for the Falcons.
Alexandra Gonzales (30), Jemine Blanco (44), Colette Fort (44) and Kylie Nelson (43) scored for the Mariners (1-1).
Scotts Valley faces Soquel on Thursday at DeLaveaga. Aptos hosts Scotts Valley at Seascape Golf Club on Tuesday.
APTOS DEF. SOQUEL >> Aptos won by forfeit in its SCCAL opener over an incomplete Knights squad Tuesday. The teams played a ‘friendly’ on six holes at Seascape G.C.
Alexandra-Gonzales (34) Jemine Blanco (53) Jacqueline Fregger (54) and Colette Fort (48) broke 50 for the Mariners.
Tiffany Higgins (48) Keala Raatior (43) and Maricel Olamit (40) posted scores for the Knights.
Girls beach volleyball
SANTA CRUZ 6, AT HARBOR 0 >> Juniors Josie Wilson and Kelea Saxton-Vaka beat Gwen Grigsby and Holly Pendergraft 21-15, 21-16 in the No. 1 match and the Cardinals earned a sweep Monday.
The Cardinals’ teams of Gigi Brown and Cassidy Beck-Watts, Sadie Jeffrey and Ava Lord, Grace Brown and Chloe Van Dongen, and Athena Kazos and Ella Jensen also won their matches.
Coral Ray field and Sarah Jutson earned a narrow 21-19, 11-21, 15-12 win over Kylee Mundell and Kaitlin Lawrence in the No. 4 match.
Santa Cruz (3-0) plays Aptos at Rio del Mar on Friday at 5 p.m.