TRACY — Nylah Dyson scored all of East Union’s 11 points in the third quarter to just three for Lathrop on the way to a 55-41 win and the Tracy Breakfast Lions/Tom Hawkins Tournament championship Saturday at West High.
“We didn’t score a lot of points in that third quarter,” East Union coach Jim Agostini said. “We came out in the third quarter and had like seven empty possessions where we didn’t hit a bucket. The defense kept us going in that third quarter, it kept us in the game all night. It’s hard four nights in a row, players shuffling in and out, absences, injuries — but all in all it was a good game.
“(Sierra coach Rudy) Valencia said last night that three Manteca Unified schools playing in the featured games here was a great accomplishment.”
Dyson was named tournament MVP. She was held scoreless in the second period but made up for it in that monster third quarter and added 10 points in the fourth, leading all scorers with 23 points.
“This was a lot of hard work,” Dyson said. “We worked hard on offense and defense.
“We did our thing out there with good assists, good teamwork really, and a lot of effort.”
Alessandra Montes just missed a double-double for East Union (14-3), scoring eight points and pulling down 10 rebounds with three blocks. A junior, Montes has missed the last two seasons rehabbing from an ACL injury.
“I think that after my whole ACL recovery I was able to bring out my confidence,” Montes said. “I have been able to come back strong and I feel comfortable.”
Ava Barrera added six points for the Lancers.
Shakara Porter led the Spartans (10-5) with a double-double at 12 points and 13 rebounds and all-tournament selection Tatiana Lowery added nine points.
“We had some stupid fouls right off the bat, but we have to rebound better,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “We were just letting them chase down rebounds and we played defense about two-thirds of the game. We have to make sure that the teams are one and done and secure the ball.
“We don’t have the height, so we have to use the aggression to make sure we get the ball. We watch too much. They got too many second, third and fourth chances, but I like the way we battled.”
The Spartans outscored the Lancers 17-12 in the fourth period.
“We shouldn’t have had to come back,” Davis said. “We should have been doing it early.
“We initiated our offense at the end of the game, but the defense is where we have to hang our hat. We just have to keep teams off the board.”
East Union hosts Sonora on Tuesday night starting at 6:30, and Lathrop kicks off the Western Athletic Conference schedule Thursday hosting Ceres at 7:15 p.m.
Third place
Sierra 45, Tracy 33
It is not often a team goes undefeated in a tournament only to finish third, but that is what happened to the Timberwolves (11-6) after they finished 3-0 in their pool. The other pool winners, East Union and Lathrop, got the nod because of their better point differential.
“It’s always good going into a tournament and winning every game,” Sierra coach Rudy Valencia said. “I am definitely proud of the girls for pulling out the victory in the final game.
“I told the girls before the game that this was the championship game. I know it wasn’t, but it meant a lot for us to go into league on a good winning streak. I am proud of the girls tonight.”
Emma Gilmore tallied seven of her 13 points for Sierra in the second period that saw the Timberwolves bounce back from an 11-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter to a 21-16 halftime lead. Her seven second-period points outscored the Bulldogs’ five.
“I think it was a really hard tournament but overall we did really well,” Gilmore said. “Our boxing out was amazing.
“The first half was a little rough but we came together second half and pulled it out, I am really proud of the team.”
Sierra’s Mya Everett also scored 13 points.
“I think the tournament was difficult, but we came together as a team and took down each team one by one,” Everett said. “We just worked together really well.”
Aliya Tipton paced Tracy (7-10) with 12 points.
The Timberwolves begin Valley Oak League play on the road Thursday against Kimball at 7 p.m.
Seventh place
Ripon 50, West 26
The Indians (6-8) limited the Wolf Pack (6-8) to six second-half points in a game that started at Swenson Gym and was moved across town to Steve Thornton Gymnasium because of a roof leak.
“We had a solid effort from everyone today,” Ripon coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “I was very proud how we played the last two games going into league next week.
“Our league is going to be tough and we will need to be ready every game.”
All-tournament selection Kaylee Lemkuhl paced the Indians with 12 points, six steals, six rebounds and three assists followed by Ava Hernandez with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
West’s Athena Pastran scored eight points.
Ripon hosts Livingston on Tuesday at 7:30 to kick off the Trans-Valley League campaign.
