Bulletin staff reports
STOCKTON — Sierra’s boys basketball team followed a heartbreaking loss with a stunning come-from-behind win in its 5th annual Trojan Christmas Classic opener Thursday at Lincoln High.
Trailing Central Valley by as much as 21 points in the second half, the Timberwolves roared back behind Jaedon Malone for a 68-60 overtime victory.
Malone ended up with 24 points, scoring eight in the fourth quarter and six in the extra period when Sierra (4-6) outscored the Hawks (3-7), 13-1. The T’wolves earlier went on a 20-4 run in the fourth, and after a turnover in the final seconds of regulation they remained in the hunt after CV missed a desperation 3.
It was all Sierra from there.
“We totally dominated overtime,” Sierra coach Scott Thomason said. “I’m proud of the guys for being able to dig it out. They were resilient. In the game of basketball, you never know.”
On Tuesday, the Timberwolves were nearing an upset victory at Christian Brothers but let a four-point lead with 25 seconds left slip away.
Central Valley got the early jump on them Thursday with a 19-point first quarter and took a 37-23 lead into halftime. The Hawks were paced by Max Sanchez’s 18 points, which included four 3s.
“I was disappointed with the way the guys warmed up,” Thomason said. “There was no energy, no passion and no enthusiasm. They played some of the worst basketball I’ve seen in the first half. We let shooters take wide-open shots, but in the middle of the third quarter our pressure started getting to them and we were aggressive on offense.”
Jaylen Jackson contributed 10 points and two 3s for Sierra. Ryan Borgeson, a freshman, finished with nine, and Jaime Ochoa had eight while setting up much of Malone’s easy shots in the second half.
Sierra gets a rematch with tournament host Lincoln tonight at 6:30. The Trojans previously beat Sierra 56-53 in the semifinal round of the McDonald’s Classic at Edison but was without 6-foot-8 Cal signee Andre Kelly.
Edison 58, Lathrop 48
STOCKTON — Isaiah Victor just missed a double-double for the Spartans with 24 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Gil Castera added 10 points and two rebounds for Lathrop (2-8).
The Spartans continue the tournament today at 3:30 p.m. against either Laguna Creek of Elk Grove or Tokay of Stockton.
Nonleague
Patterson 75,
East Union 62
Blake Greenlee poured in 29 points and hit six 3s, but the Lancers (3-7) were done in by visiting Patterson’s 44-point outburst in the second half. It was tied at 31-31halftime.
“You can’t give up 44 points in a half and expect to come out on top most nights,” EU coach Ryan Tarr said. “We struggled on the defensive end in the second half. They went on an 8-0 run to open the half and we were playing uphill from there.”
JoJo Espinosa and Drew Sena chipped in 13 and 11 points for East Union, respectively. James Perez led Patterson with 18 points.
Tracy 70, Manteca 67
The visiting Bulldogs (6-1) battled back from a 35-24 halftime deficit at Winter Gymnasium and outscored Manteca (3-6) 28-19 in the final period.
Manteca fumbled a four-point lead with 50 seconds remaining, turning it over on each of its final three possessions. Gino Campiotti fired a game-high 21 points, Matthew Ender had 14 to go with seven rebounds and Jorge Cedano contributed 12 points.
Isaiah Hawthorne and Lamont Couch scored 20 and 19 to pace Tracy.
Sophomore
East Union 82,
Patterson 40
Eric Victoria, Parm Kattra and Dominick Garcia scored 16 points apiece as the Lancers cruised to a blowout win.
