It was only a few weeks ago that the Weston Ranch High girls basketball team faced off against Sierra High in a preseason tournament.
The Cougars suffered a 10-point loss back then.
Fortunes swung in favor of Weston Ranch at the home of the Timberwolves Friday — this time an important 69-48 Valley Oak League win.
"It helped that we saw them earlier in that Tracy tournament," said Cougars coach Chris Bauer said. "We were able to better prepare (for Sierra)."
The Timberwolves (1-3 VOL, 11-7 overall) didn't help matters by stumbling out of the gates. They quickly fell behind, 16-5.
"The difference this time was that (the Cougars) hit their 3s," said Sierra coach Larissa Founts-Bergerson.
Jennalyn Laminero scored off a quick drive off the opening tip to kick off the game and continued from there with another drive to the hoop coupled with drilling the first of six 3s by Weston Ranch in that opening quarter.
"We needed to make a statement," she later said.
The Cougars (1-3, 8-10) also needed that first league win after coming close to knocking off top team Kimball last week.
"We got those few baskets early on," Bauer said. "It was good for our confidence — it carried over from there."
Weston Ranch also responded following every good run put together by Sierra.
In the first quarter, for example, Natalie Dias and Alexis McBride helped the Timberwolves close the gap, 16-12, by rallying their team with a 7-0 run.
But then Jazlyn White dropped in a pair and Kyshanti King followed that up with a trey, adding to the Cougars lead, 21-12.
Sierra bounced back in early second with another run highlighted by Inessa Villanueva's 3.
Once again, Weston Ranch answered back with three 3s by sophomore guard King, who finished with a game-high 24 points along with a pair of steals.
Ahead 35-26 at halftime, the Cougars opened the third with a 12-4 run, increasing their lead, 47-30.
From there, they able cruise through the fourth and secure victory.
Besides King, Laminero chipped in with 21 points and three steals and freshman guard Shania Watts added 10 points, two steals and a block.
Darnaysha Huff and White both had eight rebounds.
Jordan Hayter led the Timberwolves with 11 points to go along with her four boards and two steals.
Dulce Cruz had nine rebounds and a block while Dias had seven boards and a steal.
In addition, Villanueva came through with nine points and three steals.
"The good thing is that we get to face (Weston Ranch) again," said Founts-Bergerson, who is hoping for a better outcome in the rematch.