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EU TOPS DAVIS
Lancers lean on Danhoff in close win
BOYS BB -- Modesto Classic PIC4
EUs Jake Danhoff takes hard step as he finished with 21 points during a win over Davis during the first round of the Modesto City Classic. - photo by JOHN-JOEL GRIFFITHS/The Bulletin

MODESTO – East Union’s boys basketball squad resorted to its bread and butter down the stretch of Wednesday’s opening round matchup of the Modesto City Classic.

The Lancers (1-0) pounded the ball inside to standout senior Jake Danhoff, who scored seven of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and helped his squad to a 50-47 victory over Grace Davis.

“That’s the game plan, to work the ball inside out,” East Union head coach Ryan Tarr said. “(Danhoff) had a pretty good game. When he finishes at the basket he’s effective and it opens things up for other players, too. We want him inside finishing at the rim.”

Danhoff finished at the rim indeed, and also registered a block and drew a charge during the final 60 seconds of regulation. He scored his last bucket of the game to provide East Union a five-point cushion with over three minutes to play.

Despite the Lancers going 4 of 9 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter (1 of 5 in the final four minutes), they did just enough and Davis (0-1) guard Brennan Pope (15 points) missed two potential game-tying 3-pointers with six seconds left and as the time expired.

“We made things a little difficult for us the last two minutes,” Tarr said. “We made some poor decisions and didn’t handle pressure as well as we could have. We didn’t execute and convert free throws. We just have to do a better job of finishing, closing quarters, closing halves and closing the game.”

East Union led by one after the first eight minutes and went into the locker room down 26-25.

In the second half, Davis never led by more than two points and took a one-point lead to start the fourth quarter with a floater from Jordan Davis. After Danhoff made it 42-40 with an old-fashioned, three-point play, the Lancers never trailed again.

“We had a chance to get back into it, but you have to make shots,” Davis head coach Dan Pacheco said. “When you don’t put the ball in the basket it’s really difficult. We scored 42 points in a 32 minute game.

“(East Union) is OK. (Danhoff) is a great player and will be one of the better players in the area. They outrebounded us with their height, and that was their advantage.”

EU’s Robbie Gleockler finished with eight of his 12 points in the first quarter. Drew Ruiz finished with seven points and Clay Cuneo six.

The Lancers are now in the second round of the winner’s bracket and will play the Pitman/Modesto winner today at 8 p.m. at Modesto High.

Manteca 53, Johansen 45

Austin Haro led the Buffaloes with 19 points and nine rebounds during an opening-round victory during the 16-team Modesto City Classic.

Manteca (1-0) outscored Johansen 20-13 in the second quarter and took a nine-point advantage into the break.

The Vikings (0-1) cut their deficit to seven heading into the fourth but were not able to make a run during the final eight minutes.

Miguel Lopez finished with 10 points (nine in the second quarter) for the Buffaloes. T.J. Muhar dropped 13 points for Manteca, who will play against Elliott Christian of Lodi today at 6:30 p.m. at Enochs High in Modesto in the second round of the winner’s bracket.

Weston Ranch 69,
Downey 43

The Cougars are scheduled to face Gregori tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Modesto High for a second-round winner’s bracket matchup after knocking off Downey at Enochs High.

Weston Ranch sophomore Jerrico Gonzales finished with 16 points and nailed four 3-pointers.

Fellow sophomore Jalen Ragsdale dropped 13 points and 12 assists and sophomore. Erron Duncan andMarcus Moore each had 10 points.

The Cougars went on a 25-7 second-quarter run to take a comfortable 17-point cushion into the break.