Sports

Aptos, ranked 25th in the state by Maxpreps.com, almost saw its undefeated start to the season come to an end in a 1-1 draw against Santa Cruz, ranked 135th.

Ultimately, the Seahawks’ in-game adjustments, and rotational pliability proved sufficient to emerge victorious, 82-75.

The win pushed Watsonville’s unbeaten streak to 10 games, improved the black and gold to 12-1-3 overall and pushed the team into first place in the star-studded league.

M.V.C. scored five goals in the first 40 minutes to cruise past Pajaro Valley, 5-1, and clinch the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress division crown.

Aptos (20-6) and Pajaro Valley (20-4) were on opposite ends of the spectrum when the official postseason brackets were released on Wednesday night. The Mariners received the No. 1 seed in the D-III playoffs, and the Grizzlies were unseeded.

Coach Andre Bailey and Co. received the No. 10 seed in the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs, and will welcome in unseeded Greenfield (15-9) for a first round matchup at 7 p.m.

After allowing an early score in the first half, M.V.C. exploded for three goals over nine minutes to hold off an upstart No. 8 Nueva squad for a 3-1 win, the program’s first playoff victory since the 2007-08 season.

The loss wraps up a solid season for the Sharks, and interim coach Adam Hazel, who took over two weeks into the year. They finished with a 12-13 overall record, but managed to win a share of the Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress division title.

No. 2 Aptos will play top-seeded Monterey for the Central Coast Section Division III championship at Palo Alto High on Saturday at 4 p.m.