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JACKSON DELIVERS FOR BUFFS
Free throws with 6.6 seconds left secures win
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Manteca’s Jaslyn Woods moves up court against Lathrop’s Jasmine Denning (24). - photo by DAVE CAMBPELL The Bulletin

MOUNTAIN HOUSE – Jayda Jackson came up big when she needed to.

 After her Buffaloes gave up a 12-point fourth-quarter lead, Jackson found herself at the free-throw line facing a one-point deficit with 6.6 seconds left in the fourth period. Jackson put both offerings through the net and a last-second attempt by Lathrop was off the mark as Manteca ended the Mountain House round-robin tournament with a thrilling 56-55 win.  

 “We really needed those free throws,” Jackson said. “I always practice them. It was clutch time and I had to do what I had to do and we pulled it out for the win.”

 The Buffaloes (6-4) led by as many as 15 points late in the third quarter before the Spartans (6-3) exploded on a 10-3 run into the fourth period.

 “This isn’t how we drew it up,” Manteca coach Ryan Bono said. “They came out in that fourth quarter and started pressing which caused some turnovers. I told the girls it was a game of runs and you have to sweat it out sometimes.

 “Late in the game I gave the ball to Jayda and told her to go to work. She got the call and made two clutch free throws.”

 The Buffaloes pulled down seven offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter, six in the final two minutes. Jackson (10 points, three rebounds, two assists) went to the line for her final two free throws after getting an offensive rebound.   

 “Team rebounding has been out bugga-boo this entire tournament,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “Simply put we have two people rebounding and three people watching. 

 “We have to go to practice and that has to be part of our everyday drills – those things that you think are inherent for a varsity team are things we will have to work on every day. 

 In her second year on the Manteca varsity, sophomore Kyaria Jacobs is playing like a seasoned veteran. She directed the Buffaloes offense and led her team with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.  

“Coach Bono said that we would have to match their intensity and that’s what we did,” Jacobs said. “No matter how big our lead was we still needed to keep up our intensity.” 

 With 1:15 left in the game, Lathrop’s Mary Cotton (27 points, 21 points, five steals, three blocks and two assists) hit a step-back 3-pointer to tie the game and five seconds later converted a steal with a layup for a 55-53 lead. Ayon Carter chipped in 17 points with seven rebounds, two steals and two assists.  

 

Silver Bracket

Ripon 53, Sonora 52 (OT)

 The Indians (6-2) finished the tournament undefeated with a thrilling overtime victory buoyed by key free throws.

 Late in the fourth quarter, Ripon’s Reina Sausedo (18 points, seven rebounds) was fouled hard with the Indians trailing by two. Unable to shoot her free throws, Myra Toledo stepped in and converted them both to force overtime. 

 The Wildcats (6-4) took a one-point lead in overtime and were headed for the win when they fouled Sausedo with .6 second left. This time, Sausedo was not knocked out of the game and she hit the both for the Indians win.

 “It was a good, competitive tournament,” Ripon coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “Sonora is No. 4 in Divisin IV, Liberty Ranch is ranked seventh and Mountain House is always good. 

 “It was a good tournament for us to see what we are capable of doing. We will be getting ready for league now this week.”

 Tiarra Sidtikun scored 10 points with six rebounds and three assists for the Indians and Sydney Thomason added eight points, 10 rebounds and an assist.