SALIDA — Manteca rode the inside-out combination of Nick Bell and Spencer Briscoe to snap a four-game losing skid Friday at the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic.
Briscoe torched Turlock for seven 3-pointers, as he and the Bell erupted for 23 points apiece in the 75-63 consolation quarterfinal. The Buffaloes (5-7) face Bullard (7-8) of Fresno today at 1:30.
Manteca had previously beaten Turlock on the road 55-39, but the 6-foot-4 Bell was still recovering from an offseason ankle injury.
The Bulldogs (5-7) jumped out to a 15-11 first-quarter lead in the rematch, as Cameron Walker drained a pair of 3s and scored 11 of his 25 points. Manteca answered with a 24-8 second-quarter surge spearheaded by the hot-handed Briscoe.
Bell went to work in the second half, hitting a 3 of his own in the third quarter when he tallied 12 points. Each team hit 10 3-pointers. Manteca’s Jordan Burciaga contributed 12 points for Manteca, while Anthony Mendoza had 12 for Turlock.
Weston Ranch 82, Clovis East 75 (OT)
Weston Ranch (4-6) will get another crack at Campolindo, the 2018 CIF Division II champion that lost to the Cougars in the Holiday Hoop Classic final last year.
Campolindo (7-3) of Moraga avenged that loss two weeks ago in the Gridley Invitational. They’ll meet again today at 7:30 p.m. in the winners-bracket semifinals.
Weston Ranch had to overcome a late double-digit deficit Friday night to get there and rode that momentum into the extra period as Donjaé Lindsey took over. He scored nine of the Ranch’s 16 points in OT and led all scorers with 38 points, while 2018 tourney MVP backed him with 20.
William Wiggins and Jermal Pittman poured in 26 and 24 points for Clovis East (8-4), respectively.
Gregori 67, Ripon 57
The Indians (3-8) had another tough assignment in the MC tournament but hung tough with upstart Gregori (12-1).
Nico Ilardi led Ripon with 14 points, Troy Brogan had 13 and Malik Taylor chipped in 10. Julian Brown fired 15 of his 17 points in the second half for the Jaguars.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Indians, who face reigning Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champion Sonora (9-3) this morning at 10:30.
Oakdale Rotary
Ripon Christian 55, Ceres 37
OAKDALE — A 22-9 second quarter gave Ripon Christian (7-3) all the separation it needed in the 49th annual Oakdale Rotary Classic
“It was a halfcourt, grind-out game,” RC coach Mark Hofman said. “We just outlasted Ceres.”
Will Gilbert keyed the win, draining four 3s and scoring 14 points. Jacob Van Groningen added 13 points, and Braden Van Groningen had nine.
The Knights face South Lake Tahoe (6-2) at 8 tonight for the championship.
