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Hawks rout Panthers, improve to 9-0 in league standings
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Simi Sahota and Central Valleys varsity girls basketball team will close out the Western Athletic Conference season at Livingston on Feb. 16. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Central Valley High School's varsity girls basketball team moved several steps closer to accomplishing its goal this past week.

The Hawks punished Pacheco 65-11 on Thursday in Los Banos and remained alone atop the Western Athletic Conference standings.

"We're grateful to be in this position," Central Valley senior point guard Mikayla Mabie said.

The Hawks improved to 16-7 overall and 9-0 in the WAC.

"I'm definitely not surprised," Mabie said. "We're working hard. It's exciting. We all want the same thing."

Mabie had 18 points, 11 assists and three rebounds to lead the Hawks.

Adria Robinson had 15 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Adriana Haynes had 12 points, 10 rebounds and one assist.

Blanca Espinoza had 10 points, six rebounds and one assist.

Teresa Diaz had six points, eight assists and four rebounds.

Nicole Munoz had one point, six rebounds and two steals.

Gabby Bonales had one point and two assists.

Central Valley shot 38 percent (24 of 63) from the floor, 67 percent (4 of 6) from 3-point range and 42 percent (11 of 26) from the foul line.

The Hawks accumulated 33 rebounds, 23 assists and 11 steals.

Central Valley committed just six turnovers during the course of the game.

The Hawks outscored the Panthers 20-2 in the first quarter.

"Our chemistry on defense was the key," Mabie said. "We also pushed the ball on offense. We beat them down the court."

Mabie, a third-year player with the Hawks, will be in the running for the WAC's Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Mikayla, who earned first-team, all-league honors as a junior. "But I try not to focus on it too much because it's a lot of pressure. I've embraced being a point guard. My teammates are helping me out. They make my job a lot easier."

The top three teams in the WAC qualify for the playoffs.

The Hawks are headed to the postseason for the second year in a row.

Central Valley claimed back-to-back conference titles during a two-year stretch from 2010-12. The Hawks had a combined record of 18-4 in league play.

Central Valley wants to win a third WAC title this season.

"I have such an awesome team," Mabie said. "We have great chemistry. We all remind each other what the goal is."