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GIRLS HOOPS: Sierra holds off Thunder, remains undefeated
Bulletin girls basketball 2019-20
Sierra point guard Makayla Kakala tries to separate from Buhach Colony defender Stephanie Ramos on a fastbreak. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin

Mikayla Guarascio buried a reverse layup after grabbing an offensive rebound with 39 seconds to go, and Makayla Kakala later came up with a steal and hit one of two free throws as they helped Sierra seal a 44-39 win over visiting Buhach Colony on Tuesday.
The young Timberwolves improved to 3-0 but was tested for the first time after notching a pair of 40-plus-point victories.
The Thunder (1-3) of Atwater was held scoreless for the final 2 minutes. Bri Parker pushed Sierra ahead for good, 40-39, by hitting a free throw with 1:22 remaining. She ended with a team-high 14 points, half of which came in the first quarter.
Senior center Natalie Dias contributed with eight points and toughness in the paint. Cassandra Gutierrez and Teyonce Brooks-Tatum paced Buhach Colony with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

Downey 48, Ripon 47
MODESTO — Reina Sausedo gave her team a chance to escape with the win.
She stole an inbounds pass with 9 seconds remaining but was fouled before making what would have been the tying layup. Sausedo was sent to the free-throw line, where she made the front end of the one-and-one opportunity but missed the second as time expired.
Jenah Ruggieri-Vesey poured in a game-high 20 points including five 3s for the Knights (2-2). Ripon was led by Sausedo’s 15 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four assists. Myra Toledo added 11 points, and Tianna Sidtikun scored eight to go with 11 rebounds.
 
Atwater 74, East Union 56
ATWATER — Amoni Claiborne led all scorers with 26 points to help Atwater (1-1) hand the Lancers (3-1) their first defeat of the early season. The Falcons outscored them 23-11 in the third quarter to break it open, 58-36.
Lani Tu’uga and Taylor Snaer topped East Union scorers with 17 and 17 points, respectively.

Orestimba 75, Lathrop 41
The retooling Spartans (0-1) got 19 points and 12 rebounds from Jasmine Denning but could not contain the outside-inside combination of point guard Reagan Marroquin (21 points) and center Rubi Parra (23 points). Sarah Millan added 16 points for the Warriors (2-0).
Kierstin Constantino chipped in nine points for Lathrop, and Sanah Singh had seven.