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BOYS HOOPS: Raiders conquer Manteca
Magana, Traina score 18 apiece for defending VOL champions
Bulletin boys basketball 2018-19
Manteca guard Jorge Cedano (24) picks up his dribble as Central Catholic’s Charles Hallmon and Dayton Magana (1) apply the double-team pressure. - photo by Photo by WAYNE THALLANDER

Robert C. Winter Gymnasium has been a house of horrors in recent years for Mike Wilson and his Central Catholic boys basketball team.
The Raiders have been on the wrong end of buzzer-beaters, overtime thrillers and even blowouts at Manteca High.
Wednesday was not one of those nights.
Led by 18-point outbursts from Dayton Magana and Justin Traina, the visitors from Modesto rolled to a commanding 59-43 victory to begin the defense of their Valley Oak League title. Even though Central Catholic’s last two appearances in Buffalo territory were routs in its favor, past experiences have continued to haunt its coach.
“It’s always a nightmare starting here for our first game in the league,” Wilson said. “I don’t tell these guys about it, but it’s still there in the back of my head. This is a tough place to play. In the past we’ve started out 0-1, so this is a big deal. It starts us off on the right foot.”
Central Catholic’s backcourt tandem had much to do with it. Magana accounted for eight of his team’s first 12 points of the second half, hitting jumpers from the top of the key or beating the defense off the dribble and attacking the basket.
Traina later drained a 3-pointer with 1:24 left in the third to open the Raiders’ lead up to double digits for the first time, 38-28. The 6-foot-3 senior scored seven points in the period, and his two free throws gave them a 42-30 lead going into the fourth.
“Traina and Magana hit some tough shots,” Manteca coach Brett Lewis said. “I felt like we defended them really well at times and shots were going in for them. You have to tip your hat.”
The Buffaloes (0-1 VOL, 11-5 overall) also had trouble containing 6-7 sophomore wing Myles Clayton, who added 12 points and nine rebounds. He and 6-5 Charles Hallmon (one point, eight rebounds) gave Manteca fits in the opening half with their length and activity in the paint.
Manteca was fortunate to be down only 23-21 by halftime after allowing eight offensive rebounds and turning it over 10 times. The Buffs opened each with possession but had it taken away within seconds both times.
“It came down to no energy, no focus,” Lewis said. “We looked like we walked into the gym knowing we were going to win and you can’t do that — that’s a good team. Can’t have that mindset.
“To only be down two (at halftime), we were in a good spot if we could just clean it up,” he added. “Clearly, we came out with an even worse effort.”
Manteca, which totaled 18 turnovers, couldn’t get on track offensively. Rashawn Ballard converted on layups for the Buffaloes’ first two buckets of the game but was held scoreless the rest of the night. Central Catholic (1-0, 9-6) also did well to limit Manteca’s two leading scorers, Domonick Victor (11 points, five rebounds) and Jorge Cedano (five points, five assists, two blocks). The exciting 6-4, 185-pound Victor came in averaging 17.6 points per game, and third-year guard Cedano was putting up 16.2.
Isaiah Victor, Domonick’s cousin, contributed seven points in his third game with the Buffaloes. The former Lathrop standout and All-VOL first-team selection sat out their first 13 games per transfer rules.
“Cedano, we know what he does well and you have to focus on him,” Wilson said. “We’ve watched the other kid and he’s a very athletic guy and he plays hard. We had a game plan for him and I thought D’Angelo (Bellamy) did a great job on him.
“We had to match them physically tonight … The main thing that we did in the second half was hold them to one shot and really limit them. The shots they were knocking down in the first half they weren’t in the second half. We weren’t giving them second chances which allowed us to separate.”

Junior varsity
Manteca 50, Central Catholic 41

A 14-4 second-quarter advantage gave the Buffaloes (1-0, 3-9) all the cushion they needed.
Khalid Robinson poured in a game-high 22 points, Nick Bell contributed with 12 and Jake Wirstlin had nine. Arman Grewal led Central Catholic with 13.