The Manteca High girls hoop squad unleashed a strong second-half performance Monday en route to a 67-49 Valley Oak League win over crosstown rival Sierra High at Winters Gym.
“Jaslyn (Woods) was the difference for us,” said Buffaloes coach Ryan Bono. “She was in early foul trouble and didn’t play much in the first half.
“She settled us down in the second half.”
Woods scored all eight of her points, hitting from midrange while also yanking down nine of her 10 rebounds in the final two quarters.
Manteca (3-0 VOL, 12-6) went on a 22-9 run in the third quarter after leading at the half, 28-25.
Besides Woods, Jayda Jackson and Marissa Serrano came out firing, with both hitting from 3-point range in that period.
Paige Peterson and Kyaria Jacobs also had big second-half contributions for the Buffaloes.
“The third quarter was our demise,” said Timberwolves coach Larissa Founts-Bergerson, who was pleased with her team’s first-half efforts.
Sierra (0-2 VOL, 10-6) kept pace with the Buffaloes thanks to Jordan Hayter, Natalie Dias and Dulce Cruz.
“They played how I want them to play,” said Founts-Bergerson.
The opening quarter featured five lead changes, with Manteca taking a 14-11 lead into the following period.
A pair of baskets by Jacobs upped that lead to 18-11. But the Timberwolves responded with Hayter nailing a 3 and Dias scoring two.
Sierra responded to a 7-2 run by the Buffaloes with baskets by Dias and Raiann Prieto.
Jackson came through with a big hoop, converting on the three-point play to give Manteca a 28-23 lead.
Dias, off a pass from Prieto, sank a deep two to close out the half.
Hayter led Sierra with 15 points while Dias finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Cruz added 12,
Jacobs for Manteca led all scorers with 19 points. Jackson chipped with 16 while Serrano added 14, converting on four treys.
In addition, Peterson netted 10.
“She did a little bit of everything,’ said Bono of his junior forward who also had eight boards and a steal.
East Union 62,
Oakdale 44
The Lancers jumped out to a 17-0 lead and never looked back in VOL play against the Mustangs at the Dalben Center.
Donja Payne, East Union’s 6-foot-3 senior center, had her usual stellar game with 19 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.
The Lancers closed out the first quarter, leading 23-7.
“We were able to play a lot of players,” said EU coach Jim Agostini, who saw eight of his players hit the scoring column.
Besids Payne, Ala Tuuaga hit for 10 and Julia Vezaldenos chipped in with nine.
The Lancers will play at Manteca High on Wednesday and travel to Kimball on Friday.
Sophomores
Sierra 39, Manteca 33
Mikayla Guaracio of the Timberwolves closed out a close game by going 5 for 5 from the line while finishing with 21 points.
Giovanna Jimenez led the Buffaloes (0-2 VOL) with 15.
Freshman Boys
Basketball
Sierra 29, East Union 24
Neither team tallied double digits in any one quarter Saturday night at Dalben Center.
Luke Weaver led the Lancers with eight points, six rebounds and three blocks. Gavin Silva added four points and two rebounds, Daymari Cox grabbed seven rebounds and Justice Sandoval added four points for East Union.
