The crosstown tussle between Sierra and visiting Manteca went down to the wire Tuesday night, with the Buffaloes hanging on for a 55-53 Valley Oak League girls basketball win.

The Timberwolves (0-4 VOL, 11-10 overall) took a 46-44 lead with 6:55 left in the game when Emma Gilmore (12 points, eight rebounds) went coast-to-coast and fired a behind-the-back pass to Alexandra Chapman (six points, six rebounds) for a layup and the two-point lead. That lead was short-lived, as Manteca (3-1, 17-4) turned a 47-44 deficit to a 50-47 lead. Michailla Springs ended the 6-0 run with a free throw with 3:28 showing on the clock.

Taylor Zalunardo (19 points) brought Sierra to within 52-51 with 1:39 remaining on a three-point play but the Timberwolves would get no closer.

“These league games, these crosstown-rival games, they are intense,” Buffaloes coach Oscar Calix said. “They are not easy to win, but out girls pulled it out. They picked up the intensity and energy in the fourth quarter and finished the game.

“You have to give credit to coach Rudy (Valencia) and Sierra. They played their butts off. They capitalized on our mistakes and got some second chances on the boards. We gave them a couple of 3-pointers that they shouldn’t have had and they just made good shots.”

Manteca’s Jada Ikharo led all scorers and flirted with a triple-double, scoring 22 points while making eight rebounds and eight steals in front of a small but spirited home crowd for the Timberwolves.

“It was really competitive since they are our rivals,” Ikharo said. “We played really hard, and we didn’t let the crowd get in our heads.”

Springs added 12 points.

“It was just a big game,” Springs said. “There was a lot of rivalry tonight and a lot of emotions going into the game.

“We were kind of nervous to start and in the second half we started to get it together, even though it wasn’t our best game. We bounced back and we took the win.”  

Sierra’s Mya Everett scored 10 points with Abigail Chapman (three points) grabbing eight rebounds.

Valencia was proud of his team’s effort.

“This crosstown-rival stuff with Manteca is fun,” Valencia said. “That’s what it’s all about for these kids. Obviously, you want to be on the winning side of the game, but I was proud of my girls.

“Missing 12 free throws was rough, but I don’t think that everyone comes here now thinking it’s an easy win. I’m not saying anything about years past, but I feel like Sierra gets a little overlooked and that our girls are getting after it and are respectable in this league. I know that being 0-4 you might not be considered respectable, but Manteca had to earn the win tonight — it wasn’t given to them.”

Neither team had a good night at the free-throw line with the Timberwolves connecting on just 10 out of 22 from the charity stripe and the Buffaloes were only 12 of 24.

On Thursday night, Sierra travels to Modesto to face Central Catholic at 7, and at 7:30 Manteca hosts Kimball. 

Junior varsity

Manteca 49, Sierra 32

Saniyah Anthony led the Buffaloes with 13 points, four rebounds, four steals and a block.

Manteca’s Sienna Lowery added 12 points with Na’ima Calderon just missing a double-double at 10 rebounds, nine points and four steals.

Feban Tesfandrias scored 10 points for the Timberwolves. Danni Cesante and Gracie Costa chipped in six points apiece.

Freshman

Manteca 22, Sierra 13

Maleiah Garza scored 11 points for the Buffaloes and Naomi Ross netted seven points for the Timberwolves.