TRACY — Jorge Cedano and the Manteca High boys basketball team have played up to the competition of their challenging pre-league schedule so far.
And it could get even tougher as the Valley Oak League season approaches.
Cedano tallied 16 points and nearly had a triple-double while outdueling 6-foot-8 Pacific signee Isaiah Hawthorne in the Buffaloes’ 63-60 win at Tracy’s Swenson Gym. Tracy (6-3), hampered by poor shooting and foul trouble at the outset, battled back from a 34-19 halftime deficit and jumped ahead 60-59 with 44 seconds remaining.
Manteca regained the lead with a pair of free throws from Cedano, and following two missed 3-pointers Dominick Victor came down with the defensive rebound and sank foul shots of his own to put it away for the Buffaloes (9-1). Victor finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds in his fourth appearance with Manteca, and Jordan Burciaga added 17 points.
Manteca takes on another Tri-City Athletic League powerhouse at St. Mary’s on Saturday before heading to the prestigious Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic next week.
“It’s a big win for us early in the year against a very solid team that’s going to win a lot of games,” Manteca coach Brett Lewis said of Tracy, the defending TCAL co-champion. “Our team showed a lot of grit to get a big lead, lose it, weather the storm and finish it off.
“At 9-1, I didn’t think we’d be in this position right now but we’ll take it.”
The showdown between two old-school rival schools featured third-year varsity standouts in Cedano and Hawthorne. Cedano distributed eight assists while grabbing seven rebounds to go with his 16 points. He was also assigned to defend Hawthorne, who was limited to 11 points. Hawthorne, the TCAL’s reigning MVP, averaged 19.9 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season and is rated the No. 2 prospect in Northern California according to NorCalPreps.com.
Sean Guzman paced four Bulldogs in double figures with 15 points.
“To be able to stop a guy that signed early to a Division I school and still be effective on offense shows what type of player he is for us,” Lewis said of Cedano. “He’s a complete glue guy for us. Right now, he’s doing everything and has matured into a very solid, all-around player.”
GIRLS HOOPS
Ripon 61, Hilmar 18
RIPON — The Indians (1-1, 7-4 overall) bounced back in a big way after beginning their Trans-Valley League title defense with a surprisingly one-sided defeat at Livingston. Hilmar (1-1, 4-11) was limited to single-digit scoring in every quarter and trailed 30-10 at halftime.
Eleven different Ripon players scored. Reina Sausedo led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. Mikaylah Vaught contributed eight points, and Sydney Thomason secured eight rebounds.
Ripon tips off the Tom Hawkins Tracy Breakfast Lions Tournament against Sierra next Wednesday.
Sierra 39, Bret Harte 35
ANGELS CAMP — The Timberwolves (8-2) overcame a 10-for-22 shooting effort from the free-throw line and an 18-11 halftime deficit.
Natalie Dias came through for 10 points and 11 boards. Jordan Hayter chipped in nine points.
Ripon Christian 62, Franklin 30
RIPON — The Knights (7-4) had their way with the visiting Yellowjackets (0-5) from Stockton on both ends of the court in the nonleague tilt. They were ahead 33-17 at halftime and held Franklin to single digits in the final three periods.
Morgan Van Elderen poured in 18 points and six assists. Rilee Clark added 13 points and five rebounds, and every Ripon Christian player scored.
The Knights begin their 25th annual tournament next Thursday, Dec. 27 against Millennium at 6 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Sierra 1, Oakdale 0
OAKDALE — Miguel Villaseñor’s unassisted goal in the 42nd minute was the difference in the VOL showdown.
Sierra (2-1, 5-5) competed without a big chunk of its roster after several players were booked in the Timberwolves’ heated 2-1 defeat to East Union on Tuesday.
W. Ranch 4, C. Catholic 2
MODESTO — Weston Ranch (3-0, 8-6) remains undefeated in the VOL after staving off the Raiders (1-2, 2-6), who scored the first goal of the match.
Robert Gonzalez answered for the Cougars, scoring his team-high 15th goal off a feed from Jesus Vega. They led 2-1 at halftime. Elvin Bolanos contributed a goal and an assist. Jesus Vargas and Ariel Silva scored one apiece, while goalie Francisco Vega collected five saves.
JV boys hoops
Tracy 53, Manteca 40
TRACY — The host Bulldogs trailed 17-14 at halftime before holding Manteca (1-6) to four points in the third quarter and exploding for 27 in the fourth to race away victorious.
Khalid Robinson spearheaded the Buffaloes with 17 points. Jake Wirstlin buried three 3s in the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points.
JV girls hoops
Ripon Christian 25, Franklin 23
RIPON — Abigail Laswell accumulated 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Knights.
Samantha Anema pitched in six points, nine rebounds and three steals. Kristen Van Elderen added eight rebounds. Ripon Christian faces Manteca to open the Ripon Tournament next Wednesday.
