The Manteca Buffaloes opened both the first and fourth quarters with offensive spurts, separating themselves for good with the double-digit fourth quarter push in a 62-40 Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff win Tuesday.
Manteca (25-3) pulled away in the first on a 15-6 run, getting points from Mia Ramirez, Karleshea Thompson and Jasmine Odell in the game’s first three minutes. Manteca continued its dominance early in the second before surrendering its double-digit lead by getting outplayed on the offensive glass.
Patterson chipped its way to within seven to end the half and pulled even closer with the first two buckets of the second half. Patterson’s run made it a two possession game and then Manteca sophomore Jessica Hasal separated her Buffaloes for good.
Hasal drained back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the third, lifting Manteca to a 10-point lead and providing the Buffaloes with the final spark they would need.
“She’s been clutch for us this second half of the season,” Manteca head coach Andrea Hiatt said. “She has no fear, she comes in and she hits big shots. When I know we need a shot nobody on our team is afraid to get her the ball.”
Hasal joined a cast of Manteca standouts, led by Thompson’s 16 points. Odell followed her with 15, while Ramirez and Mikayla Hasal closed out the list of Buffaloes finishing in double figures with 10. All four players played an integral part in the Buffaloes closing out Patterson (18-8) in the fourth, combining for all 20 of Manteca’s fourth quarter points.
“They have a bunch of seniors and a good point guard that was able to control the game,” Patterson head coach Elizabeth Reza said. “That is what we lacked and they capitalized on that; and did a great job of it too.”
Patterson got a strong outing from Shealyn Craven who led all scorers with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Manteca will need a repeat performance from its variety of scoring weapons if they plan on continuing its season after a second round matchup with No. 3 seed Modesto Christian.
“We’re a balanced team and we are kind of hard to defend,” Hiatt said. “Nobody can zero in on one key player and say let’s stop that person. We’ve got someone else that can beat you.
“The girls are having fun right now and they’re starting to play relaxed.”
