UC Santa Cruz guard Emilie Ngo named Coast To Coast Conference’s 2026 Player of the Year | Local Roundup
UC Santa Cruz women’s basketball talent Emilie Ngo was named the Coast To Coast Conference’s 2026 Player of the Year, in addition to being an all-conference first-team selection.
Ngo, a sophomore guard out of Oak Grove High in San Jose, finished the regular season with 318 points, an average of 14.5 points per game.
She scored a team-high 17 points in the No. 5 seed Banana Slugs’ season-ending 71-49 loss to No. 4 Mary Washington in the C2C Conference Tournament quarterfinals in Salisbury, Maryland, on Thursday. (Teammate Jenna Gorton added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss.)
Ngo also led the conference with 134 assists, which set the single-season record for UCSC and was eight-best in the country. Her 6.2 assists per game average ranked fourth nationally.
Ngo was named the C2C Rookie of the Year in 2024-25.
High school wrestling
CIF State Championship: Four locals advanced from Day 1 at the CIF State Wrestling Championships at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield on Thursday.
Aptos’ Cruz Contreras (132 pounds) went 1-1. He was pinned by Poway’s Jack Malinconico in 1:19 in his first match, and earned a 13-6 decision over Paloma Valley’s Anthony Saldana to open action in the consolation bracket. Contreras faces Frontier’s Nick Agerton in his next match.
SLV’s Ollin Bates (215) and teammate Gabriel Attia (285) each went 0-1 on Day 1.
Bates was pinned by Chaparral’s Jaxon Smith in 51 seconds in his opener. He faces Frontier’s Stryker Conley in the consolation bracket.
Attia (285), the CCS runner-up, dropped a 13-3 major decision to Moorpark’s Noah Huss in his lone match Thursday..Attia faces Rancho Cucamonga Brayden Kilgore to open consolation action.
Aptos’ Cole Moules (165) went 0-2. He dropped an 8-0 major decision to Bakersfield Christian’s Nathan Paul in his first match and was eliminated after losing an 11-6 decision to Anderson’s David Griffith.
In the girls tournament, Santa Cruz’s Vera Bentley (130), the CCS runner-up, went 0-1 on Day 1. She was pinned by Santa Ana’sMarley Nelson in 5:42 in her first match. Bentley faces Panorama’s Ruby Jasso in consolation action.
Surfing
BTMI Barbados Surf Pro: Santa Cruz’s John Mel and Adam Bartlett were eliminated in the Round of 32 at the World Surf League’s BTMI Barbados Surf Pro on Friday. The Qualifying Series season finale, a 6,000-point event, will determine who advances to the Challenger Series next season.
Mel, No. 8 on the 2025-26 North America Men’s QS Rankings, produced a two-wave total scored of 10.27 to finish second to Kai Gale Grani (14.17) in Heat 5 of the Round of 64 on Thursday.
In the Round of 32, Mel (11.70) took third in Heat 4. He finished tied for 17th and earned 960 points.
Bartlett, ranked No. 83, produced at 10.60 total to edge Eeli Timperi (10.50) and finished second to Matton Bain (11.26) in Heat 2 of the Round of 64.
In the Round of 32, Bartlett (8.87) took third in Heat 2. He also finished tied for 17th and earned 960 points.
The competition window runs through Sunday.
High school softball
At Aptos 3, Monterey 2: Freshman Angie Lopez, junior Emma Burgueno, and senior Cara Allshouse each hit a double and scored a run for the Mariners in their nonleague win Thursday.
Junior Nova Neu hit smacked a pair of doubles for the Mariners, who finished with five hits, all going for extra bases.
Junior pitcher Mya Najera-White earned the complete-game win.
Aptos (2-0) hosts Palma on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
High school baseball
Soquel 6, at Saint Francis 3: Seniors Jake Escalante and Hudson Summerrill each had two hits, two RBI, and a run scored, as the Kinghts knocked off the Lancers in Mountain View in their nonleague game Thursday.
Senior pitcher Dylan Hull gave up three runs and five hits over 3 2/3 innings and earned the victory.
Soquel (1-0) hosts Hollister on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Aptos 7, Truckee 1: Cole McGillicuddy doubled, homered and drove in three runs in the Mariners’ nonleague win Thursday.
Damien Espinoza had two hits, including a double, and scored twice for the Mariners. Aiden Frey also had two hits and two RBI.
Aptos (1-0) hosts Los Altos on Saturday at noon.
Boys tennis
At Pacific Grove 6, Scotts Valley 1: Senior Aditya Hannon earned a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Oliver Crandall at No. 2 singles to account for the Falcons’ lone win in their season opening loss Thursday.
Scotts Valley freshman Colin Johnston dropped a three-set thriller, 6-2, 6-7 (10-8), 1-0 (10-8), at No. 3 singles.
Scotts Valley (0-1) plays at Monte Vista Christian on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
College baseball
Chabot 6, Cabrillo 5, 12 inn.: Dylan Bartlett had two hits and two RBI, and Jayson Schmeisser had two hits and scored twice in the Seahawks’ 12-inning, nonconference loss Thursday.
Elijah Cernak scored the winning run on Riley Winchell’s RBI single.
Ellis Lubiens had two hits, drew two walks, and scored a run for the Seahawks, and Triton Dew also had two hits.
Declan Casey earned the win in relief, and Eric Hernandez took the loss.
Cabrillo (9-6) plays at Skyline (13-3) in San Bruno on Friday at 2 p.m.
Golf
Hole in one: Aptos’ Bob Cayton aced the 145-yard 18th hole with an 8-iron at Pasatiempo Golf Club on Thursday. It’s his 12th career ace.
Reporting Scores
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