Two athletics programs at Hilmar High returned to campus this week with hardware following impressive performances at regional tournaments.
After falling short to Pitman in the title game of last season’s inaugural Queens of the Pitch tournament hosted by Golden Valley High School in Merced, which tries to match up league champions and conference contenders from across the Central Valley, the Yellowjacket girls soccer team finally claimed the crown with three victories.
Down in Chowchilla, the boys basketball team also won three games to claim the tournament title and improved to 5-2, marking the program’s best start since 2021, when the ‘Jackets won four of their first six games.
At Queens of the Pitch, the Lady ‘Jackets got off to a hot start with an 11-0 dismantling of Gustine on Friday morning in which Brisa Gonzales and Raylynn Mendoza each scored four goals, Milly Lorios scored a pair and Mckenzie Silveira contributed a score. It set up a meeting of powerhouses in Hilmar and the host Cougars later in the day, where the two teams held each other scoreless for the 80 minutes of regulation and the Yellowjackets won a shootout, 3-2. Penalty kicks were made by Gonzales, Mendoza and Lyzandra Padilla.
Hilmar, who have appeared in Sac-Joaquin Section championship games in the last two years, cruised in Saturday’s final match, winning 5-1 against Washington Union of Fresno. Mendoza added two more goals to bring her season total to nine in just five games. Gonzales also found the back of the net for her team-high 14th of the year through the team’s first six games, as did Lorios and Scotlynn Sanchez.
The Lady ‘Jackets improved to 6-0 entering a Tuesday match with Ceres. It marks the best start to a season since 2017, when they won the first five matches on the schedule. Later this week will bring a non-conference road match against Stone Ridge Christian and the Sierra Tournament in Stockton, where they’ll play three games between Dec. 12 to 13.
Over on the hardwood, the Hilmar boys hoops squad began the Chowchilla Tournament with a 56-27 thumping of Dos Palos on Thursday, with Aaron Solorio leading the way with 14 points and Darin Maciel pitching in 11. They were two of eight Yellowjackets to contribute in the scoring line. Riley Quintero grabbed 11 boards to lead all players while pouring in eight points.
The Yellowjackets rode the momentum from the win to a 61-41 rout of Mariposa on Friday, where Carter Froth made four of eight from beyond the arc on his way to a game-high 14 points. Solorio and Quintero were other double-digit scorers with 12 and 11, respectively.
Hilmar then received a breakout offensive performance from Cohen Felber, as he shot 7-for-13 from the field to lead all scorers with 18 points as the ‘Jackets pulled out a 66-61 thriller over Santa Maria in Saturday afternoon’s championship game. Solorio was close behind with 15 points, while Quintero and Xavier Silveria posted doubles-doubles with 11 points and 10 rebounds each.
Solorio was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Quintero and Silveria were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Yellowjackets traveled to play Patterson on Tuesday before turning their focus to the San Luis Obispo Tournament, where they’re slated to play four games between Dec. 11 and 13.
