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Guards pick up the slack for 11-1 Sierra
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With its bigs slowed by foul trouble, Sierra looked to its guards to end its pre-league schedule on a high note Friday at Tokay.

Daniel Wyatt and Devin Nunez each drained two 3-pointers and finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively, and the Timberwolves held off a late Tigers surge to prevail, 60-47. Jess Spivey added 11 points for Sierra, which goes into its Valley Oak League opener against Oakdale with the Manteca area’s best record at 11-1.

“We had guys off the bench step up and good guard play,” Sierra coach Scott Thomason said. “Daniel had one of his better games tonight and hit some big shots for us. We didn’t always play at the championship level we want to be at, but now everyone is 0-0 and we’re looking forward to Oakdale on Tuesday.”

Hunter Johnson and 6-foot-8 center Joshua Patton struggled to get into a rhythm because of fouls. Both ended up with eight points, with Patton scoring all of his in the fourth quarter. Sierra led 13-3 after the first quarter and sat on a 22-point cushion at one point in the second half before Tokay (5-7) heated up from behind the 3-point arc.



Riverbank 60,
East Union 58

In Riverbank, the Lancers (6-7) outscored the host team 24-6 in the fourth quarter to overcome a 22-point deficit. They had a chance to tie it with a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining but the shot was off the mark.

The Bruins (4-7) trailed 10-2 at the start but distanced themselves with a 22-point outburst in the second quarter. They were held to 19 points in the final two periods combined.

Gyse Hulsebosch fired five 3s and was 8 for 8 from the free-throw line while scoring 31 points for the Lancers. Jordan Barajas added 13 points, and Wolfgang Lopez paced Riverbank with 17.

“We lacked consistent defensive intensity and consistency on the offensive end, which was the story of our preseason,” East Union coach Ryan Tarr said. “We haven’t been able to do it for a full 32 minutes yet.”

East Union hosts Kimball to start VOL play on Tuesday. East Union topped the Jaguars 53-50 in the second round of the West-Tracy Holiday Classic two weeks ago.



St. Mary’s 84,
Weston Ranch 58

Weston Ranch’s challenging nonleague scheduled resumed with yet another stern test.

Stockton powerhouse St. Mary’s (10-4) opened with a 22-8 advantage and scored more than 20 points in each of the final two periods to further break it open. Lance Coleman II, a 6-foot-8 wing forward, spearheaded four Rams in double figures with 25 points and 11 rebounds. The Rams buried 11 3-pointers.

Fred Lavender paced Weston Ranch (6-5) with 15 points, and Jaelen Ragsdale added 13.



Franklin 63, Lathrop 60

Isaiah Ellis accounted for 20 points before fouling out, but it wasn’t enough to get the Spartans (1-10) over the hump in Stockton. Isaiah Ward and Yancy Ram each had 12 points, and Avraj Bal turned in 10.

Franklin (3-9) was lead by sophomore Milton Jordan’s 23 points.

Lathrop welcomes Manteca on Tuesday.



Sophomore

Lathrop 40, Franklin 28

Idowu Olayeye poured in 14 points and 10 rebounds to anchor Lathrop in its final nonleague contest.



Freshman

Franklin 45, Lathrop 43

The Spartans had a chance to win it at the buzzer but missed the 3-point attempt.

Colin Weis churned out 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals to lead Lathrop (3-3). Michael Ballard contributed 13 points.