Manteca’s Justice Chase scored eight fourth-quarter points Saturday and helped repel a late East Union run as the Buffaloes held on for a 62-54 Valley Oak League boys basketball win at Winter Gym.

“In the fourth quarter we had problems with some of our shots, but it was our defense that came through,” Chase said. “They hit a few big 3-pointers and then when we pressed that gave them a little more pressure.

“I think our defense really got us that win.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes (6-1 VOL, 14-8 overall) enjoyed a 53-40 lead. The Lancers (3-5, 15-8) narrowed the Manteca lead to 58-54 with 50 seconds left in the game. Manteca got two free throws apiece from Noah Lyons (12 points, six rebounds) and Chase (13 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals) to round out the scoring. 

Trey Moreland (six rebounds, five assists, two steals) led the Buffaloes with 15 points.

“It was a great team win,” Moreland said. “We expected them to come out hard and fight with us and we were able to come out on top.”

Manteca coach Jason Hitt was pleased with his team’s shooting prowess.

“Our percentage from the field was the best of the season,” Hitt said. “We shot the ball extremely well and we made our free throws down the stretch. Trey Moreland and Noah Lyons combined to go 6 for 6 from the free-throw line down the stretch and Justice Chase made some free throws as well. It was a great shooting performance by us.

“EU is one of the scrappiest teams in the league. I thought Bryan Howe played tremendous for them tonight. He scored 20 points and kept them in it the entire game. He was the X factor for them. Tonight we just couldn’t guard him. He was making shot after shot after shot.”

Howe’s 20 points led all scorers with 20 points and he spearheaded the 14-5 fourth-quarter East Union run with eight points behind two of his four 3-pointers and two of his three steals. Dylan Lee added 18 points.

“Unfortunately, we just dug ourselves too big of a hole,” Lancers coach Charles Legan said. “We got down 8-0 early, then we made our run and then they made their run again.

“We just fell a little bit short. I am proud of the effort, we didn’t quit. We just had too many turnovers and missed some defensive assignments.”

The Buffaloes host Kimball on Wednesday and East Union travels to Sierra on Friday. Both games are at 7:30 p.m.

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Manteca 60, Stagg 42

The Buffaloes (14-8) put up 24 first-quarter points behind four 3-pointers by Moreland.

Chase led the Buffaloes with 16 points. Moreland finished with 15 points on five 3-pointers, Brock Gross added nine points and Blake Gross six.

“We were able to play everybody,” Hitt said. “Guys were kind of sore after the EU game.

“In the second half the bench got a lot of minutes and got to run things. It was good that the bench got to fine tune for when they are called upon in the games this next couple of weeks which are going to be a grind. They did a great job.”

Junior varsity

Manteca 62, East Union 34

Bryson Davis posted a double-double for the Buffaloes with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Manteca’s Garrison Reis added 16 points and seven rebounds. Peyton Nieman (five rebounds) chipped in 11 points and J.J. Menor 10.

Freshman

Manteca 62, East Union 51

Eddie Anthony led a balanced Buffaloes attack with 13points.
Manteca’s Johan Peringelil added 11 points and Jayden Scarver 10.