The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

Jayonnah Carter just made it to the 600-point career plateau before being knocked out of Saturday’s 2023 women’s basketball finale at College of San Mateo’s College Heights gym against West Hills.

The CSM sophomore needed 11 points in the game to reach the mark. She reached it on a layup with 3:18 left in the third quarter for a 55-32 Bulldogs lead in a game they won handily, 77-45.

Carter came back with another lay-in off a fast break a minute later before being knocked to the ground on a blindside block at the other end, which finished her activities for game.

“I got hit on a screen,” Carter said after the game.

Carter appeared OK at that point and was pleased to hear about surpassing the 600-point mark.

“I didn’t know I was approaching 600,” she said.

The 5-foot-7 San Leandro grad led the Bulldogs last season with 380 points in 29 games. She has now tallied 222 points this fall, averaging just over 13 points through 16 games. And it was with 13 points through three quarters that she finished against WH.

With Carter watching from the sidelines, Ariel Petalver took game scoring honors for CSM with 15 points, followed by Joslyn Moore with 14.

The Bulldogs (13-3) won 12 of their last 14 games heading into 2024. Ranked No. 21 in the state, they did falter against No. 9 Laney College, 60-39, Dec. 29. Carter, with 11 points, was the only CSM player to score in double figures against the Eagles defense.

San Mateo, sporting the best non-league record among Coast North teams, closes non-league play Friday, hosting Fresno City College (11-4) at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Skyline women had its three-game win streak interrupted in its final contest of 2023 at Fresno, 92-73.

Skyline (7-10) had previously taken holiday-break victories over East Los Angeles, 68-52, Santa Rosa, 58-51, and Merritt, 87-61.

Jenika Zurita leads Skyline in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. That includes 48 3-point field goals (second among Coast North players).

Skyline finishes non-league play on Friday, hosting Hartnell College (8-7) at 5:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball

Cañada beats Napa; Skyline loses at No. 1 West Valley; CSM falls to West Hills in double OT

Cañada College wound-up as the “survivor” of Saturday’s final San Mateo County men’s collegiate basketball games of 2023. The Colts took a 72-53 victory over visiting Napa Valley College.

The big showdown featured Skyline, sporting the best non-league record in the Coast North Conference, at state No. 1 West Valley College, which is the favorite in the Coast South Conference.

West Valley took that contest, 74-50, to remain unbeaten (14-0).

College of San Mateo had the closest game. The Bulldogs forced two overtimes at West Hills in Lemoore, but finally succumbed, 88-83.

Canada finished 2023 with a 9-6 record. Skyline is now 11-3 — one of four Coast North teams with just three setbacks in non-league play. San Mateo, playing a tough non-league schedule to prep for the Coast North campaign, is 6-9.

Cañada finishes pre-league play Friday, hosting Cabrillo College (14-1) at 5 p.m. Skyline visits Monterey Peninsula College (11-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. San Mateo visits Hartnell College (4-9) in Salinas on Saturday at 3 p.m.