Kimball took the lead for good to start the fourth quarter Thursday at Manteca, and freshman Emma Coronado help keep the Jaguars in the lead with three 3-pointers in the final period.
Kimball remains one game behind East Union in the Valley Oak League girls race with the 53-47 road win.
“She was the difference tonight,” Buffaloes coach Oscar Calix said of Coronado. “In the second half, she hit five 3s. And that’s our fault by not communicating on defense or not fighting through screens and allowing space on her.
“Communicating is just something we have to get better at. I really think that was the difference tonight.”
After Marianthe Tsirelas (13 points, six rebounds five steals) converted a steal and put the Jaguars (6-1 VOL, 19-3 overall) ahead 35-34 to start the final period, Coranado (22 points) hit her first of three 3-pointers within four minutes to help Kimball to a 49-40 lead halfway through the quarter.
Kerena Malone (16 points, 17 rebounds) muscled in a three-point play with 36 seconds left to bring Manteca (4-3, 15-7) within 50-47. That is as close as the Buffaloes would come.
Coronado finished with six 3-pointers.
“She gets me so mad,” Jaguars coach Michael Turpin said of Coronado. “I was a point guard in college and I’m trying to train her to be a point guard, and at times she takes over and just lets it go. Darn freshman. They keep going in, and I can’t explain it.
“My kids played really, really hard. We had a tough loss against East Union, there was so many fouls against us. But, for them to bounce back was huge. Now we still have a chance to beat East Union and be tied for the league lead.”
Manteca’s Michailla Springs added 10 points behind a pair of 3-pointers with four rebounds, two assists and two steals and Brianna Parker chipped in nine points.
Kimball stays a game behind East Union and the Buffaloes drop to three behind with three games remaining. The Jaguars will travel to Manteca to face East Union in the VOL finale on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Manteca travels across town to face Sierra on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
Manteca 49, Kimball 10
Th,e Jaguars were limited two just two points in both the first and second quarters.
Kalaja Reese led a balanced Buffaloes attack with 12 points and six steals followed by Jayda Anderson with seven points and Aaliyarae Jacobs with six points and four assists. Genesis Mailangi grabbed six rebounds and Alana Sumaylo five.
Freshman
Manteca 37, Kimball 34
The Buffaloes used a 14-10 fourth quarter to come from behind for the win.
Sienna Lowery led Manteca with 17 points. Jocelyn Baptist added nine points, seven rebounds three assists, three steals and two blocks and Saniyah Anthony shipped in seven points, six rebounds and two steals.
