The nets got cut down at Dalben Center on Thursday night, as the East Union girls basketball team won its sixth Valley Oak League championship in a row with a 45-31 defeat of Manteca.
The visiting Buffaloes did not make it easy.
The Lancers (11-1 VOL, 21-6 overall) had doubled up Manteca (3-9, 8-18) at 30-15 when Michailla Springs (game-high 10 points with 12 rebounds and five steals) scored the final seven points of a 15-5 run for the Buffaloes with 5:55 left in the game to draw within 35-30.
Enter East Union’s Jerney Luckett.
The Lancers senior scored two quick buckets off of assists from Haven Stone (six points, four rebounds, assist) and Zyondupree Beasley (four points, nine rebounds, assist, block) before grabbing a steal of her own and firing a long pass to Stone for a layup to bump the Lancers lead to 41-30.
Beasley then added a pair of free throws, and East Union never looked back.
“I just saw it happen,” Luckett said of her steal. “Her eyes told me where she was going to pass it, and I took my opportunity and then I saw my teammate (Stone) up ahead and I passed it to her.
“I had to act quick, but not recklessly for those two quick and easy buckets.”
Lancers coach Jim Agostini was not surprised that the Buffaloes made a late run.
“That’s VOL basketball,” he said. “Manteca was not going to walk in here and just allow us to do what we do. We had to earn it, and they made us earn it. I tip my hat to them.
“It feels awesome to win six in a row. It means the girls are coming into the program, and it is fun to watch them develop and evolve as young ladies, and we are happy for them to have something like this to take with them.”
Ava Barrera led a balanced East Union attack with nine points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Along with Stone, Jayda Anderson and Alessandra Montes added six points apiece.
“Coach was talking about getting more rebounds,” Barrera said. “And I wanted to be the person that got them.”
It was fitting that Montes was the last senior to cut off a piece of the net, as her last two seasons were cut short by knee injuries.
“I wanted to end the season off hard,” Montes said. “This was a great accomplishment for me to finish out the season. I haven’t had the opportunity to finish a season the last two years, but this year I did.
“I am blessed for the team that I have and all the support I had because without them I wouldn’t be here today.”
Manteca’s Lana Bondoc hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third period for her six points, and Jaesha Dunn led all rebounders with 14.
“We had our moments where we played really well,” Buffaloes coach Oscar Calix said. “And then we had moments when we just collapsed as a unit.
“To keep it a close game with the VOL champs – I can’t ask much more from my girls.”
The waiting game now begins for the Lancers as the Sac-Joaquin Section playoff brackets will be announced on Saturday with the playoffs beginning Tuesday.
Junior varsity
East Union 44, Manteca 18
The Lancers wrapped up league play with a perfect 12-0 record.
East Union’s Jedah Hayward led all scorers with 15 points, with Lucija Dayeh adding 13 points.
Krystan Ramirez paced the Buffaloes with seven points.
Freshman
East Union 39, Manteca 36
Down 10 points with three minutes to play, the Lancers roared back for the thrilling win.
Elle Baluyut paced East Union with 13 points, three rebounds and three steals. Camille Christensen added 10 points, two steals and a rebound with Andrea Nibler chipping in nine points, two steals and two rebounds. Escamilla Valeria grabbed seven rebounds with four steals and Jisselle Tuggles (three points, rebound) made five steals.
