MODESTO – Scoring doesn’t seem like it will be a problem for East Union freshman Jordan Kron, as he continued an impressive start to his high school career with his third consecutive 20-point outing in the Lancers’ 80-55 win over the Buhach Colony Thunder Friday.

The Lancers clinched a berth in the Modesto City Classic consolation final behind Kron’s 29 points, setting up a quality opening to the season and serving notice to Valley Oak League schools that East Union’s program is on the rise.

Buhach Colony ran into all kinds of difficulty dealing with East Union’s press, turning the ball over to a Lancer team that boasts several different scoring options on the court at all times.

“We are a small team, so our mindset is to get after it the whole time,” Lancer head coach Brett Lewis. “We know we’re small, so we preach it all practice. Everything is up and down and nothing is ever halfcourt.

“The only time we stop is to shoot free throws.”

The tenacious up tempo pace is something East Union is thriving with so far. Buhach did its best to keep up with the break-neck speed of the trapping Lancers, but even when they were able to get beyond half court that success rarely resulted in any points.

East Union pulled away with a 29-18 second quarter run with scoring from up and down its roster. Four Lancers ended in double digits, with TeeJay Gordon scoring 15 and both Ricky Inderbitzin and Ken Ramos adding 12. Kron opened the contest with deadly aim, connecting for four 3-pointers on his way to 25 first-half points.

“Jordan does not surprise me,” Lewis said. “I have been seeing him shoot since he was 5 and he was lights out back then. His mentality is something that you cannot coach.

“Everybody respects him. He’s a freshman and he is a leader on this team.”

The Lancers are enjoying how things are unfolding so far this season, winning two of its first three games.

“This group has come a lot closer than the team’s in the past,” Lancer standout Inderbitzin said. “We do everything together, we call each other on the weekends and do team things together like watch football, eat pizza together.

“We just have fun and that’s what family is.”

Today East Union will try and finish out its Modesto City Classic run with a consolation championship win.

Kiwi Gardner made sure that his most valiant effort of his career did not go to waste, leading the Buffaloes with eight points in the overtime period to push past the Pride and into the tournament championship.

Gardner led all scorers with a 52-point effort, complete with nine 3-pointers and 36 points after the intermission.

“We’ve all seen him play and you watch a kid like that and you don’t know what to say,” Manteca head coach Dave Asuncion said. “It was really something special out there to watch (Friday).”

It was evident early it would be his night as he scored Manteca’s first nine points on three 3-pointers. Gardner would score 11 in the first, five in the second, 12 in the third, 16 in the fourth and eight in the bonus period. The Buffaloes will meet up with the Davis-Modesto winner for the tournament title.

After a strong showing on the second day of the Modesto City Classic, the Spartans found themselves outmatched in their outing against the Raiders.

Jan Villanueva led Lathrop with 12 points, while teammate Ricky Chavez finished with 10.