North Salinas girls hoops

 The cast of players changes each season. But the director for the Vikings remains in place.
 Co champions of the Gabilan Division last season didn't sit will for a program accustomed to having the banner all to themselves since the league was formed five years ago.
 Neither did finishing as runner-ups in the Central Coast Section Division I finals as the Vikings bit to three-peat came up short.
 North Salinas coach Darren Jackson did something different this year. He challenged his players and himself by putting the team in the St. Francis Holiday Classic.
 There were no creampuffs in this tournament as the Vikings absorbed losses to St. Francis (11-2) and defending CCS Division I champion Palo Alto.
  In Jackson's words 'Now they know' what lies ahead as North Salinas could very well see Palo Alto again in six weeks.
 If there was a side effect in dropping their last two non-league games, it's that the Vikings came out with fire and passion in two lopsided wins to open the Gabilan Division.
 Senior Danae Snell has been an offensive juggernaut all season with help from sophomore Destiney Urzua and sophomore newcomer Maxine Tennant.
 Not that it needed any incentive in a league it has dominated, but a meeting with visting Monte Vista tonight is not just another league game for the Vikings.
 The Mustangs ended North Salinas' 35-game league winning streak last season, as the two teams shared the Gabilan Division title.
 It might be noted that the Vikings have never lost a home game in the Gabilan Division.