The NCAA Division I Santa Clara University men’s basketball team will return to Santa Cruz for the first time since the 2020-21 season to play a pair of nonconference games.
Both games will be held at Kaiser Permanente Arena, home of the NBA G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors.
The Broncos, who went 21-13 overall last season and reached the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, host North Texas in a mid-week battle on Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. and Loyola University of Chicago on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.
Pacific Collegiate School alum Malachi Douyon, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, and the Santa Clara Broncos’ men’s basketball team will play two games in Santa Cruz this season. (Santa Clara Athletics)
Santa Cruz Warriors Chief Operating Officer David Kao said the organization has been looking forward to hosting the Broncos again. He noted that current Golden State Warrior Brandin Podziemski is a Broncos alum and spent time playing in Santa Cruz.
Kao, in a release, stated that the games were “great opportunities for basketball fans to experience high-caliber college hoops here in Santa Cruz.”
Santa Clara, under the direction of 10th-year Broncos head coach Herb Sendek, have recored four consecutive 20-win seasons.
Santa Clara lost four of its top five scorers from a year ago after graduating three seniors and seeing 7-foot junior Christoph Tilly transfer to Ohio State. The Broncos count Elijah Mahi, 6-7 forward out of Toronto, among their returners.
One of the Broncos’ top newcomers is 6-8 junior guard Thierry Darlan, a former G League player who hails from Bangui, Central African Republic. He made headlines in the offseason after being cleared to return to the college ranks.
The Santa Cruz games will be a homecoming for Pacific Collegiate School alum Malachi Douyon, a 6-3 senior reserve guard for the Broncos, and Will Burkett, who was promoted to assistant coach for the Broncos this season after serving as the program’s director of operations for the previous four years.
The Broncos had 15 games scheduled at KP Arena in 2020-21, according to the school’s athletic website, but more than half of them were either postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spectators weren’t allowed to attend the games.
The Broncos open their season against Cal Poly Humboldt at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
Flag football
St. Francis 20, at Salinas 19: Sophomore quarterback Liliana Whitmeyer scored on a 14-yard run to give the Sharks the lead with 2 minutes remaining, and teammate Keira Grio made some big defensive stops late to preserve the narrow Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division win.
The Sharks, ranked No. 3 in the Central Coast Section by maxpreps.com, moved to 4-1 since losing star receiver/defensive back/punter Maya Calfee to a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 22.
“The whole team showed a lot of resilience being down early 13-0 in the first quarter,” said Sharks coach Frank Galvan. “The offense was struggling but then found their way and was able to score enough to get the win.”
St. Francis (17-3, 10-1) plays at Alisal (6-5, 6-5) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
At Palma 39, Watsonville 13: Quarterback Aaliyah Arellano threw a pair of touchdown passes for the Wildcatz in their PCAL Gabilan Division loss Monday.
Yoselin Delgadillo scored for the Wildcatz on a 55-yard pass play, and Aliah Anaya also had a touchdown reception.
The Chieftains improved to 7-4, 6-4.
Watsonville (5-10, 3-8) hosts Salinas (8-7, 6-4) on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.
Girls volleyball
At St. Francis 3, Pajaro Valley 2: Senior outside hitter Peyton Orradre had 18 kills in the Sharks’ 25-22, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25, 15-12 PCAL Cypress Division win over the visiting Grizzlies on Monday.
Senior outside hitter Julie Lopez had nine kills and served five aces for the Sharks (11-3, 5-1). Senior setter Georgia Otzman made 34 assists and five kills.
Junior middle blocker Ella Dewig had five blocks and five kills for St. Francis, and senior middle blocker Madison Silva had five kills and four blocks. Senior libero Mia McClendon made 18 digs.
St. Francis hosts North Monterey County (10-9, 4-3) on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
At Watsonville 3, Alvarez 0: The Wildcatz earned a 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 sweep of the Eagles in their PCAL Mission Division match Monday.
Watsonville (5-14, 1-7) plays at Alisal on Friday at 6 p.m.
At Salinas 3, Monte Vista Christian 1: The Mustangs suffered a 21-25, 25-13, 25-17, 25-13 loss to the Cowboys in their PCAL Gabilan Division match Monday.
Junior Charlotte Johnson made 12 kills to lead the Cowboys (14-5, 7-0).
MVC (6-13, 1-6) hosts Hollister (6-7, 2-4) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Reporting Scores
Coaches are encouraged to report scores and highlights to sports@santacruzsentinel.com following games. Please include your name and contact number in the email.