Carmel-King City girls hoops

For a program with title aspirations dancing in its heads, it was not the non-league season King City (3-6) had hoped for.
Particularly with 10 of its 12 players from last year back in the fold. Adjusting to a new system under new coach Andrew Persin left the Mustangs without an identity.
 The hope is that changes tonight when King City opens Mission Trail Athletic League play, hosting reigning two-time defending champion Carmel.
 There is optimism in south county after the Mustangs closed the preseason Wednesday with a 57-51 win over Coalinga.
 The 57 points was a season high as Megan Flores and Madison Owens combined for 27 points and 38 rebounds.
 An all-leaguer last year as a sophomore, Flores gives King City a presence in the paint while Owens is one of four returning starters.
 Carmel struggled in its final two non-league games, failing to score 20 points in both losses. In five of its six losses, it has been held under 30 points.
 While graduation stripped the Padres (4-6) of their two leading scorers,  6-foot-1 sophomore Soana Loalatu is a double-double machine while Ashlyn Davis is a returning starter.
 In the teams last meeting that decided the title last year, Carmel outscored the Mustangs 17-5 in the third quarter for a 42-41 win. The Padres have won the last five games against King City.