The Buffaloes (6-2) were dealt their first two losses of the season by top-flight teams from the Sacramento area leading up to the inaugural Gregori Winter Holiday Hoops Classic in Modesto last week.

They were blown out by Antelope and Monterey Trail, respectively ranked No. 1 and 6 in the Sac-Joaquin Section by MaxPreps computer ratings.

Manteca’s senior point guard spearheaded the turnaround, as they won three straight in as many days at Gregori to capture the tournament title. Chaparro was named MVP and did it with her all-around game, averaging 15 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.0 blocks.

“Marci is one of those players any coach would love to have,” Manteca coach Oscar Calix said. “She impacts the game in so many ways. Defensively, she will guard the best player, offensively she can see the whole court and make things open up for her teammates, but she can score at will when needed. Her scoring ability has improved tremendously, and it’s coming easy to her.”

Her best game of the tournament was in the winners-bracket semifinal against Ripon Christian. The Buffs rolled 68-34 behind the 5-foot-7 Chaparro’s 21 points, six assists, six steals and three blocks.

Manteca opened with a 68-26 mauling of Modesto. In the final, the Buffaloes handled tourney host Gregori 62-42, even with their top two frontline players getting into foul trouble.

“In the Gregori Tournament, Marci was putting pressure on everybody defensively, forcing other teams to turn over the ball left and right,” Calix said. “She did a great job of forcing ball handlers to stay on their weak side, and offensively she helped with not just her scoring, but her ability to lead. She helped everybody on the floor, communicated, just stepped up as a leader. The girls feed off of her. She is somebody I can trust to run the team if I’m not there.”

For the season, she is averaging 13.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.4 blocks.