Selma crowned twice in Central Section soccer playoffs. Bears celebrate in unison
There will be a double celebration in Selma after the boys and girls soccer teams won Central Section championships this week.
The girls knocked off No. 5 Mira Monte 3-0 in Division V and the boys topped top-seeded Riverdale 2-0.
“The kids deserved it,” Selma boys coach Ruben Zamora said. “We stepped it up when we needed to. We had a few injuries since the beginning of the playoffs and some of the (players) were call-ups. We competed and had amazing players.”
Lupe Valencia scored Selma’s first goal in the 20th minute and Brando Alvarado scored the other in the 30th.
It was some relief for Zamora, whose past teams came up short by reaching the semifinals.
It was Selma first section title since 2010-2011, when the Bears defeated Arvin 2-1.
The Bears celebrated the title with the girls team, posing for a photo before the net in the goalkeeper area.
“It’s been a longtime coming,” Zamora said. “These kids were freshmen when we competed in the first semifinal. They knew the feeling of defeat. They’re seniors and they were able to leave at least with a ring, and that’s what means the most.”
Zamora’s cousin, Luis Zamora, is the Selma girls soccer coach and he was just as excited for the boys.
“We’ve been supporting each other,” Luis Zamora said. “We had all the girls out there tonight. It was just icing on the cake. Seeing them win it tonight as well, it was great.”
In the girls final, the first goal was scored by Starlette Ordonez and the final two came from Lacy Vasquez.
The Selma girls hadn’t won a section title since 2008-2009, when the Bears defeated Central Valley Christian 3-2.
Luis Zamora said his team remembered when Mira Monte defeated the Bears 3-0 in the 2022-2023 season.
“Winning this year is great,” he said. “Winning it against a team that knocked us out two years ago is even better.”
In other championship games:
Division II boys: Lindsay defeated San Luis Obispo 2-1. The Cardinals have just one loss this season.
Division III boys: Porterville defeated Fresno 2-1.
Division V boys: Granite Hills defeated Nipomo 2-1.
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 9:57 AM.
