Sonora High’s girls basketball team just reintroduced itself to the Valley Oak League title race.
The Wildcats stunned favored East Union 46-40 in Sonora Tuesday, making Manteca the only team remaining with a perfect conference record.
Kelli Keefe scored nine of her game-high 16 points the first half, when Sonora (3-2, 8-8) held the Lancers (4-1, 12-4) to just four points in the second quarter while staking a 27-14 halftime lead.
East Union, to its credit, climbed back into the contest while battling through foul trouble, twice cutting the deficit down to 3 late in the fourth.
“I never question the way my girls compete,” East Union coach Jim Agostini said. “It was just one of those nights where we had a very difficult time staying on the floor.
“It was a tightly-called game, but we have to be accountable for what we did. We put ourselves in a situation early that we did not want to be in.”
East Union had three starters foul out: Guards Salina Tiscareno (10 points) and Briona Fontenot (seven points, and post Shalane Jackson (four points). Lexy Posz paced EU with 14 points.
The loss takes a little bite out of Thursday’s home contest with rival Manteca, though it doesn’t make it any less important.
East Union, which dropped two of three to the Buffaloes last year, can recapture a share of the lead, but it won’t be easy. Last week, Manteca throttled Sonora at home, 57-33.
The defeat may the wake-up call the Lancers need after winning six straight by an average margin of 37.4 points.
“The VOL is what it is,” Agostini said. “We know we have to win Thursday night, so I’m sure my girls will be ready to play and avenge this loss.”
In Oakdale, the Buffaloes (5-0, 14-2) piled up leads of 27-6 and 49-11 in the first half before the running clock slowed their roll in the fourth quarter.
Sharon Washington poured in 20 points for Manteca, Gabby Escobedo contributed 11, Tia Tuuga had nine and Karleasha Thompson eight.
In Tracy, Weston Ranch (4-1, 10-6) had three starters benched for disciplinary reasons at the start, helping winless Kimball battle to a 9-9 tie heading into the second quarter.
After a 27-2 onslaught in the second, the Cougars, who had four players in double figures, never looked back.
Jazmin Strane scored 13 points, Emoni Wilson and Timnesha Wilson (five assists) added 11 apiece and April Seth produced 10 points and eight steals.
Santasia McClearn contributed 14 rebounds.
The Wildcats stunned favored East Union 46-40 in Sonora Tuesday, making Manteca the only team remaining with a perfect conference record.
Kelli Keefe scored nine of her game-high 16 points the first half, when Sonora (3-2, 8-8) held the Lancers (4-1, 12-4) to just four points in the second quarter while staking a 27-14 halftime lead.
East Union, to its credit, climbed back into the contest while battling through foul trouble, twice cutting the deficit down to 3 late in the fourth.
“I never question the way my girls compete,” East Union coach Jim Agostini said. “It was just one of those nights where we had a very difficult time staying on the floor.
“It was a tightly-called game, but we have to be accountable for what we did. We put ourselves in a situation early that we did not want to be in.”
East Union had three starters foul out: Guards Salina Tiscareno (10 points) and Briona Fontenot (seven points, and post Shalane Jackson (four points). Lexy Posz paced EU with 14 points.
The loss takes a little bite out of Thursday’s home contest with rival Manteca, though it doesn’t make it any less important.
East Union, which dropped two of three to the Buffaloes last year, can recapture a share of the lead, but it won’t be easy. Last week, Manteca throttled Sonora at home, 57-33.
The defeat may the wake-up call the Lancers need after winning six straight by an average margin of 37.4 points.
“The VOL is what it is,” Agostini said. “We know we have to win Thursday night, so I’m sure my girls will be ready to play and avenge this loss.”
Manteca 71, Oakdale 21
In Oakdale, the Buffaloes (5-0, 14-2) piled up leads of 27-6 and 49-11 in the first half before the running clock slowed their roll in the fourth quarter.
Sharon Washington poured in 20 points for Manteca, Gabby Escobedo contributed 11, Tia Tuuga had nine and Karleasha Thompson eight.
Weston Ranch 69, Kimball 22
In Tracy, Weston Ranch (4-1, 10-6) had three starters benched for disciplinary reasons at the start, helping winless Kimball battle to a 9-9 tie heading into the second quarter.
After a 27-2 onslaught in the second, the Cougars, who had four players in double figures, never looked back.
Jazmin Strane scored 13 points, Emoni Wilson and Timnesha Wilson (five assists) added 11 apiece and April Seth produced 10 points and eight steals.
Santasia McClearn contributed 14 rebounds.
