Manteca High’s girls basketball team is looking to close out its nonleague schedule strong today in the consolation championship game of the Tom Hawkins/Tracy Breakfast Lions Tournament.

The Buffaloes took down Turlock for a second time 49-36 on Friday. The rematch came exactly a week after they throttled the Bulldogs (2-7) 50-25 in Turlock.

Manteca (5-4) has a chance to win a third straight for the first time this season against Foothill today at 4:30. The consolation finales take place at West High, while winners-bracket games will played across town at Tracy High.

“This time Turlock came out and showed they had improved from their last game,” Manteca coach Cody Norman said. “We played good team ball again, passing the ball around and our post players did a great job of running the floor and controlling the boards.”

Center Abigail Behler and guard Jessica Hasal led the way with 11 points apiece. Manteca led 12-0 in the first quarter the first time it met Turlock, but in Friday’s showdown it was ahead by just two, 14-12. A defensive adjustment allowed it to outscore the Bulldogs 27-11 in the second and third quarters combined.



Foothill 36, East Union 31

Victoria Vezaldenos racked up 11 points and 17 rebounds for the Lancers (3-6), but it wasn’t enough to overcome 22 turnovers and an overall poor shooting effort in the first half.

East Union scored just three points in the opening quarter but only trailed 13-11 at halftime.

“It was hard-nosed, man-to-man defense, but it was a tough night of scoring for both teams,” EU coach Jim Agostini said. “

Point guard Olivia Vezaldenos (6 points, 7 rebounds) was out for a stretch in the third quarter with a sore back, and Foothill took advantage by outscoring the Lancers 13-7. East Union takes on Turlock for 12th place today at 3 p.m.



Mission San Jose 43, Lathrop 26

At Tracy High, the Warriors (7-4) of Fremont outscored Lathrop (4-7) 12-1 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. The Spartans did well to climb back from a 14-point halftime deficit and cut it down to four at one point.

Mission managed to win decisively despite shooting 4 for 19 from the free-throw line.

“I was proud of how we fought back, but they just outran us to the finish line,” Lathrop coach Ed Fang said. “They shut us down and basically outquicked us to get the shots they needed. You can’t win if you only score one point in a quarter.”

Jazlyn Simon paced Lathrop with 10 points, and Loreal Taylor pulled down eight rebounds to go with four points. The Spartans are in the seventh-place game against Modesto today at 3 p.m.