Manteca’s top-seeded girls tennis team put away three early wins in its Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinal Wednesday at Manteca Regional Tennis Center, but No. 5 Los Banos came back to prevail, 5-4.
The Tigers (15-7) will vie for the championship Saturday at University of the Pacific against third-seeded River Valley (18-3) of Yuba City. The final starts at 10 a.m.
Los Banos knocked off two Valley Oak League teams along the way, opening with a 5-4 win at No. 4 Oakdale.
On Wednesday, it came down to the third set of the No. 3 doubles match, with Manteca’s Delialah Sanchez and Rubi Sepulveda coming up short against Mikayla Luna and Sabrina Reynosa, 6-3, 2-6, 2-6.
The Buffaloes (11-7) earlier dropped the No. 6 match in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, as Paisley Coeneneberg lost to Ava Felix. Parm Toor kept Manteca in it with her 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 comeback win over Kambria Moore at No. 5 singles, but Los Banos won all three doubles contests.
The top three singles matches belonged to Manteca. Emma Ngo swept at No. 1 6-1, 6-0 against Gaby Romo, and Shreya Raman shut out Julieanne Gurgen 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 Michailla Springs then took care of April Cunha, 6-2, 6-3.
Los Banos got its first team point at No. 4 singles, where Tiffany Tovar defeated Simar Mann, 6-2, 6-1. Zoey Wooten and Grace Orozco dispatched Myreal Bugayong and Mariah Ramirez at No. 1 doubles, 6-2, 6-0. No. 2 doubles Stephanie Martinez and Melissa Fernandez beat Pia Kley and Alyson Alvarado, 6-1, 6-3.
Flag football
Livingston 34, Lathrop 6
The fourth-seeded Spartans (20-4) lost for a third time to their Western Athletic Conference rival. No. 1 Livingston (28-0) moves on to the SJS Division III championship and plays No. 2 Del Campo (16-3) on Saturday at Cosumnes River College.
Luz De Luna (16 completions, 176 yards, five interceptions) connected with Aaliyah Thompson (three receptions, 50 yards) for Lathrop’s only points. Jaleiyah Ray contributed five catches for 48 yards. Heiddy Camacho had six catches for 39 yards.
Faith Allen, Camacho and Ray each had an interception on defense. Aaliyah Thompson broke up five passes. Dayanna Martinez compiled five tackles.
“Our girls played their hearts out, and I could say they left it on the field,” Lathrop coach Randy Baltazar said. “Very proud of all the girls, and they should be, too.”