SALINAS — Perfection was on the line for one program. Redemption for the other. All the ingredients created a postseason flavor — albeit a few weeks early.
It’s possible a third meeting could unfold between Salinas and Alisal — the last two Gabilan Division girls basketball champions. But it would have to come in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
“I told their coach we will see you soon,” Salinas coach Jens Gordon said.
For now, the two programs appear headed for a Gabilan Division co-championship after Alisal used a fourth quarter rally Friday to defeat the host Cowboys 51-46, snapping their 16-game league winning streak.
“It was more personal for me,” Alisal senior Nayeli Gil-Silva said. “With the injury last year. Losing at home to them this year. I was not going home without a win.”
Gil-Silva, who went over 1,000 career points earlier this year and is closing in on the Trojans all-time scoring record, suffered a knee injury in last year’s meeting with Salinas and was lost for the season.
The 5-foot-9 forward, who came into the game averaging just over 18 points a night, dropped in 24 points against Salinas, including 11 free throws for Allisal.
“The gym was packed and loud,” said Gil-Silva, who also leads Alisal in rebounds, steals and assists this season. “I just told myself I’m going to knock these free throws down.”
With five games left in the regular season, the 2024 Gabilan Division champion Trojans have a share of first place with the reigning champions at 8-1. Both still have a second half meeting with Hollister.
“My emotions were so conflicted,” Gordon said. “I was so disappointed with how we played in the first half. But so proud of the effort in the second half. Now we have to put our nose to the grindstone and finish the season in the right way.”
Salinas, which defeated Alisal 50-40 earlier this month, hadn’t suffered a league loss since succumbing 38-32 in January of 2024 to Hollister, who currently sits two games behind the co-leaders.
Having set a school record with eight straight wins to start the season, the Trojans (17-2) have won seven consecutive games since falling to Salinas. Their only other loss was to Pleasant Valley in Chico, who is ranked No. 10 in the state in their division.
Yet, after opening up a 10-point halftime lead with a tenacious defense, that included strong efforts from freshman Aubrey Jones and Brooklyn Smith, Alisal saw itself staring at a one-point deficit with eight minutes left in the game.
“I told them to be patient,” Alisal coach Claudia Moran said. “We have been here before. Just trust each other and play as a team. Keep fighting one step at a time. We’re still climbing a ladder.”
Each time the Trojans needed a basket, Gil-Silva delivered, proving unstoppable in the paint, either finding a lane to the basket or being fouled and sent to the free throw line.
“They were playing tight on me,” said Gil-Silva, who also had five steals and three assists. “I had a lot of back-door cuts for easy layups.”
As Salinas has done all season, it relied on its balance with Alissa Escutia, Alice Uchida and Isa Stepp combining for 27 points to get them to within a point with 27 seconds left before it was forced to foul.
Anchored by Gil-Silva and Mia Rivera, Alisal held the Cowboys to 22 first-half points in building a 10-point halftime cushion.
“As a coach, you have to reset and focus,” Gordon said. “I calmly spoke to them at halftime. I told them this is not who they are. Lets put this behind us. We had a strong second half effort. It came down to who wanted more. Alisal is a good team.”
Not only did Salinas find its stroke in the third quarter in scoring 17 points, but its defense clamped down, holding Alisal to six points to open up a 39-38 lead with eight minutes remaining.
“When I’m playing, I don’t remember much,” Gil-Silva said. “But I remember telling my team to stay composed, be selective with your shots. Lets finish this.”
In addition to Gil-Silva’s 24 points, Rivera added nine points, while Ameryse Thatcher and Lucy Peinado combined for 12 points.
“My two freshman Aubrey (Jones) and Brooklyn (Smith) were huge in getting rebounds, just hustling,” Moran said. “There was a lot of communication and trust out there.”
Salinas, who came into the game riding a 10-game winning streak — nine by double digits, hadn’t suffered a setback since falling to Harker on December 27.
“I don’t know if we were where we needed to be mentally when the game started,” Gordon said. “It was a crazy day for these girls. But there are no excuses. We will be better off for this day.”
