North Salinas boys hoops

 It's been a tough first half for the Vikings, who struggled through a 2-12 preseason.
 Progress, though, isn't always measured in wins.
 North Salinas has gotten better throughout the course of the season, having gone 2-3 in its last five games.
 The benefits of a team that never quits was rewarded Wednesday when North Salinas used a free throw from Justin Ferrales with no time left in a 37-36 win over Soledad.
 Ferrales didn't have a point until time had expired. It was likely the biggest free throw of his career, and certainly the Vikings season.
 The feeling before league play started was that North Salinas would created headaches for Cypress Division opponents in the second half.
 So are they ahead of schedule?
 It's a cast of unknowns that provide production, as evident by six different players leading the team in scoring this season.
 It was Guy James and Ricky Orozco's turn on Wednesday. It was also the Vikings best defensive effort of the season.
 And at 1-1 in the Cypress Division, it's a brand new season for North Salinas.