SJS league strengths ratings unkind to MEL, SCAC

FAIRFIELD — The Sac-Joaquin Section released its 2012-13 league strength ratings, which will be used to formulate power ratings for the upcoming prep basketball playoffs, on Wednesday, and area leagues drew wildly varied reviews.

Tops is the Monticello Empire League on the girls side with a 6.7 rating, which ranks seventh among the section’s 27 leagues, despite Armijo (15-6, 4-0) being its only team more than a game over .500.

Worst is the Solano County Athletic Conference girls league, which is tied for 16th with the Golden Empire League at 5.3 rating. Vanden (17-3, 4-0) easily has the conference’s best record with Fairfield (4-16), American Canyon (4-15) and Vallejo (4-11) each struggling mightily.

Closer to the middle on the boys side are both the SCAC and the MEL, with the former 12th at 6.2, the latter tied for 13th with the Modesto Metro Conference at 6.0.

Only Benicia (13-8, 3-1) and Vanden (13-8, 2-2) have winning records in the SCAC, with no teams left unbeaten in league play.

Meanwhile, the MEL has just two boys teams over .500 in Wood (13-8, 3-1) and Armijo (9-6, 2-2) with league-leading Rodriguez (9-11, 4-0) on a four-game winning streak.

Prep wrestling

Vikings capture first SCAC win

VALLEJO — Fernando Angulo and Kyle Tygart each recorded pins to help power the Vanden High wrestling team down Vallejo 36-24 for its first Solano County Athletic Conference win of the year on Wednesday.

Angulo prevailed at 140 pounds, Tygart at 162.

The Vikings also got forfeit wins from Joey Zambori (108), Albert Bernales (154), Nick Palacios (172) and Brandon Dontogan (184).

Vanden’s boys are at San Marin of Novato, its girls at Cesar Chavez of Stockton on Saturday before making the trip to Fairfield High on Wednesday.

Armijo 75, Vintage 3: At Fairfield, only one match went the distance as the Indians (8-4, 2-2 MEL) dropped just one bout in rolling to a 72-point victory.

Earning pins for Armijo were Darius Levan (108), Ryan Dechant (128), Dennis Mattuzzi (140), Damian Simpson (147), Danny Charos (172), Billy Cimmino (184) and Kris Elkin (heavyweight).

Garnering technical falls were Terrance Saeteurn (115), Hayden Scibek (134), and Amini Kapapa (162), while Josh Gadia (122), Jorge Perez (154) and Max Uson (197) won by forfeit.

The Indians are at Rodriguez’s Lou  Encalada Invitational on Saturday before hitting the road to take on the Mustangs on Wednesday in SCAC action.

Prep boys basketball

Coleman, Niccum lead Knights to victory

VACAVILLE — Malic Coleman had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Niccum added 10 points and seven rebounds as the Buckingham Charter boys basketball team bounced Sacramento Adventist 60-38 in Sacramento Metro Athletic League play at Vaca Pena Middle School on Tuesday.

The Knights (14-4, 4-1 SMAL) entertain Sacramento Country Day on Friday.

Prep girls basketball

Buckingham Charter falls to Sac Adventist

VACAVILLE — A pair of Jasmine’s – Gonzalez and Coutee – played well, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Buckingham Charter girls basketball team from dropping a 32-26 Sacramento Metro Athletic League decision to Sacramento Adventist on Wednesday.

Gonzalez delivered nine points and eight rebounds, while Coutee had seven points and eight rebounds, and Brianna White played a solid defensive game for the Knights (4-10, 2-4 SMAL).

Buckingham hosts Sacramento Country Day on Friday at 5 p.m. in a Pink Zone game in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for breast cancer awareness and research.