REDWOOD CITY — If Aptos High girls basketball team didn’t already earn the status, it made sure it did Saturday at Sequoia High. For the third time in four years, the Mariners won the Central Coast Section Division III championship.
Go ahead, say it: Dynasty.
Senior forward Natalia Ackerman had 15 points and 11 rebounds and senior guard Gabby Giuffre quarterbacked the offense and had seven points and three assists to lead the No. 1 seeded Mariners to a 57-30 rout of No. 3 Mills to repeat as section champion.
“I’m so grateful to win three titles in my four years,” Ackerman said. “We came out strong and we put all our hearts into it. It was amazing being back on the court today.”
After winning their third-straight Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League regular season title and claiming SCCAL Tournament and CCS tournament crowns, the Mariners (25-4) turn their focus to the NorCal playoffs.
The Vikings (16-11) also advance to the NorCal playoffs, which begin Tuesday night. Seedings will be announced Sunday.
“They’re going to make a big run in NorCals,” Mills coach Dave Matsu said. “They’re a top-notch team and they have a lot of great athletes. They’re long and athletic and they’re veterans. They’ve been here before.”
Senior guards Madison and Emma Stefanini and sophomore wing Jasmine Ackerman each scored nine points for the Mariners. Sophomore guard Jaylen Dang added five points, four rebounds and two steals.
Ackerman, sidelined the previous two games due to injury, showed no signs of rust. In addition to her dominant double-double – with eight of the 11 rebounds coming on the offensive glass – she added four blocks and four steals.
“It was great having Natalia back again,” Emma Stefanini said. “It really opens up the court. And our defense was strong; we switch it up every play.”
Aptos exploded to a 14-2 lead just 4:38 into the contest, punctuated by a pretty give-and-go with Natalia assisting her younger sister, Jasmine, to an easy bucket.
Mills fought back with free throws but Natalia Ackerman had three second-quarter field goals as Aptos pulled out to a 27-10 advantage, with three minutes left before halftime. Aptos’ defense was shackling Mills. At that point, the Vikings were 1-for-18 shooting from the field, with seven turnovers.
Aptos led 33-18 at halftime and 47-22 after three quarters. In fact, Mills took 45 shots in the game and made nothing deeper than a layup. No 3-pointers, no mid-range jumpers — nothing.
“We played excellent defense,” Aptos coach Bruce Funk said. “When you hold a team to 18 points at halftime and hold them to 12 in the second half, that’s the recipe for victory.
“We contested everything. Our trapping defense in the half-court – they had difficulty penetrating. We really executed our game plan defensively.”
Natalia Ackerman intimidated the Vikings inside. Rylee Mennie and Jasmine Ackerman added to the stone wall in the interior. Giuffre, Dang, Erin Schmidt and the Stefanini twins controlled the perimeter. The title contest marked the ninth game in the last 11 in which Aptos held an opponent to 36 points or less.
“The twins really give us our toughness,” Funk said. “Everyone who succeeds has to have players who dive for the ball and body up. The twins give us that.”
The Score
Aptos 57, Mills 30
Up next: NorCal playoffs; First round, Aptos vs. TBA
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: TBA
