Spartans hang tough in loss

WESTON RANCH – On paper, the Lathrop Spartans weren't supposed to stand a chance when they took the field to face the Weston Ranch Cougars on Friday night.

Lancers pick up first win since ‘07

STOCKTON - Pardon the Lancers for being a bit too zealous Friday at Podesto Field. The 32-15 non-league win over Bear Creek was their first since November 2, 2007.

Indians claw back, take down Bears

RIPON – Down 15-0 in the first quarter against a tough Summerville squad, Ripon battened down the hatches behind quarterback Alex Gustin and rode the offensive line to a hard-fought 32-23 win.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

A highly anticipated match between Sierra No. 1 doubles tandem Stephanie Vanni and Jena Anderson and East Union No. 1 Shalane Jackson and Klasey Kachalkin went down Thursday at East Union High, and although Sierra's best was challenged for the first time this season, Anderson and Vanni prevailed, 10-5.

First-half barrage keys Manteca’s victory

For 20 minutes, Lathrop, competing in its first varsity season without seniors, hung tough.

Resurgent Indians nab third win

RIPON – For Sam Conway, Karen Fredricks and Megan Talbot, three Ripon High juniors who have experienced the last two seasons with head coach Eric D'Ambrosio, Thursday's 191-215 win over Ripon Christian was especially satisfying.

T’Wolves pick up huge win at West

TRACY – Modesty Rodriguez keeps finding open teammates and it keeps leading to Sierra wins.

Elijah pours in four goals for Sierra

Sierra's defending Valley Oak League champion frosh-soph soccer team cruised to a 6-0 victory in its regular-season home opener Thursday at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

TAYLOR MADE

Daniel Taylor, East Union's first-year offensive coordinator, knows a little about the quarterback position.

WEEK 2 FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

Anaya leads Ripon in drubbing MC

RIPON – All that stood between Ripon and an undefeated preseason was a 5-4 shootout loss in the Big Valley Tournament championship.

Ceres’ Beck too much for Buffs to handle

CERES – Jamie Beck, a 6-foot, 2-inch junior, is leading a Ceres volleyball reawakening this season and Manteca was on the opposite end of her hard-hitting wrath Wednesday in a 0-3 (16-25, 22-25, 22-25) road loss.

Buffs have trouble with Sonora in loss

Sonora showed up at Manteca High Wednesday and showed what Wildcat tennis is all about in a 15-0 win over the upstart Buffaloes.

LIGHTS OUT

Sierra has been a lights-out team in the second half of its games so far this season.

Brayton too much for RC in TVL opener

RIPON - Following a 17-25, 14-25, 20-25 loss to Escalon in the Trans Valley League opener Tuesday at home, Ripon Christian head coach Tiger Shelton said that Cougars outside hitter Kaitlin Brayton could be the best player in the conference this season.

‘O’ ZONE

The future of girls Valley Oak League basketball was on display Tuesday night at Sierra High School with two sophomores accounting for 68 points in a thrilling 61-56 win for visiting East Union over the Timberwolves.

Weston Ranch routs Manteca to clinch playoff berth

Weston Ranch's girls basketball team officially clinched a playoff berth for a sixth straight year Tuesday night with a 67-40 rout at Manteca, but the Cougars are looking to raise the bar for the program.

Spartans stun Sonora

The Lathrop High girls basketball team doesn't have a playoff run to look forward to, but it isn't going out without a fight.

Playoff spots on the line

At this point last year and the 23 before that, coaches were busy crunching numbers to see where their teams could potentially land in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Knights clinch outright SL title

It had been known for weeks that Ripon Christian was going to secure the outright Southern League championship without much resistance.

ONE AND DONE

STOCKTON – Sierra jumped out to a quick but not-so comfortable lead thanks to three early forfeits Saturday during the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Team Dual Championships at Lincoln High.

Cantu takes title, 1 of 5 state qualifiers

STOCKTON – Weston Ranch senior Alyssa Cantu will be making her third straight trip to the state tournament.

Guards carry load for streaking Buffs

STOCKTON - Weston Ranch was able to limit Manteca High center Michael Hatfield this time around, but the Cougars had no answer for the Buffaloes' two best guards.

Five locals move on to SJS Girls Regional semis

Victoria Burke could likely make Sierra High history today.

Lathrop escapes Sonora with win

Lathrop trailed by as much as 10 in the third quarter at Sonora but came back to squeak out a well-earned 64-58 victory Friday night.

Heavy Lifting

LATHROP – Nick McGill came through in the clutch during Thursday's Valley Oak League finale between East Union and Lathrop.

Postseason begins for area wrestlers

Sierra was one of the tougher and more talented squads in the Valley Oak League this year.

Fast start propels East Union to victory over Lathrop

East Union's girls basketball team was making it a habit to start games sluggishly this season.

Weston Ranch honors seniors with blowout

Senior night did little to distract Weston Ranch's girls basketball team Thursday night.

Ripon falls short in another heartbreaker

Ripon has been competitive for most of the season but doesn't have the wins to show it.