The Valley Oak League season is in full-throttle and the East Union Lancers had no interest in giving up a hard-earned league win, fighting off a resilient Oakdale Mustangs squad for a 56-55 win Wednesday at the Dalben Center.
Both teams headed into the locker rooms at halftime linked at 28-28, but a third quarter Lancer run pushed East Union up 47-39 with just eight minutes to play. Oakdale seemingly had no fight left, when the Mustangs turned the table, cutting a double-digit Lancer lead to nine with just under four minutes remaining.
Oakdale took advantage of East Union’s miscues on the offensive end, nailing two 3-pointers and pulling themselves to within one-point with 45-seconds remaining. East Union (2-2 VOL, 7-7 overall) got the break it needed when after running the game clock under 10 seconds a misfired jump shot was rebounded by the Lancers, pushing them back up to .500 for the league season.
“If we could have started the game with our intensity, I felt like the game would have been a lot easier for us,” East Union head coach Brett Lewis said. “But that’s just how it goes because night-in and night-out you just can’t bring that intensity.
“It was a good, solid win for us and now we just have to keep battling and get ready for a solid Weston Ranch squad.”
Teejay Gordon led the Lancers with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards. Ricky Inderbitzin pulled down 11 rebounds and scored nine points, while teammate Jordan Kron finished with 14 points, four assists and four rebounds.
Ceres (2-3, 8-8) came out of the gates hot, scoring 20 points and sinking three 3-pointers on its way to a 10-point lead. The Cougars were able to stay neck-and-neck with the Bulldogs down the stretch, but their first quarter woes proved to be the difference.
“They key for us is always energy,” Weston Ranch head coach Ryan Bono said. “And we did not come out (Wednesday) with energy defensively. We we’re lazy and picking up cheap fouls by reaching.
“I’m proud of the way the guys battled back and didn’t quit, you can’t win one quarter and expect to win a ball game.”
Nate Moises led the Cougars with 18 points and six steals, while John Carungay, Griffin Alexander and Ronnie Collins all chipped in with eight. Collins added nine boards to go along with his offensive production.
Umar Murrisett led Lathrop with 14 points, while Justin Fernandez and Alex Pineda both chipped in with three.
Both teams headed into the locker rooms at halftime linked at 28-28, but a third quarter Lancer run pushed East Union up 47-39 with just eight minutes to play. Oakdale seemingly had no fight left, when the Mustangs turned the table, cutting a double-digit Lancer lead to nine with just under four minutes remaining.
Oakdale took advantage of East Union’s miscues on the offensive end, nailing two 3-pointers and pulling themselves to within one-point with 45-seconds remaining. East Union (2-2 VOL, 7-7 overall) got the break it needed when after running the game clock under 10 seconds a misfired jump shot was rebounded by the Lancers, pushing them back up to .500 for the league season.
“If we could have started the game with our intensity, I felt like the game would have been a lot easier for us,” East Union head coach Brett Lewis said. “But that’s just how it goes because night-in and night-out you just can’t bring that intensity.
“It was a good, solid win for us and now we just have to keep battling and get ready for a solid Weston Ranch squad.”
Teejay Gordon led the Lancers with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards. Ricky Inderbitzin pulled down 11 rebounds and scored nine points, while teammate Jordan Kron finished with 14 points, four assists and four rebounds.
Ceres 68, W. Ranch 58
CERES – The Cougars (3-1, 7-8) experienced their first VOL setback with a double-digit loss to the Ceres Bulldogs Wednesday.Ceres (2-3, 8-8) came out of the gates hot, scoring 20 points and sinking three 3-pointers on its way to a 10-point lead. The Cougars were able to stay neck-and-neck with the Bulldogs down the stretch, but their first quarter woes proved to be the difference.
“They key for us is always energy,” Weston Ranch head coach Ryan Bono said. “And we did not come out (Wednesday) with energy defensively. We we’re lazy and picking up cheap fouls by reaching.
“I’m proud of the way the guys battled back and didn’t quit, you can’t win one quarter and expect to win a ball game.”
Nate Moises led the Cougars with 18 points and six steals, while John Carungay, Griffin Alexander and Ronnie Collins all chipped in with eight. Collins added nine boards to go along with his offensive production.
Sonora 60, Lathrop 21
SONORA – The Wildcats jumped on the Spartans in a hurry, outscoring Lathrop 41-11 in the first half on their way to the VOL win.Umar Murrisett led Lathrop with 14 points, while Justin Fernandez and Alex Pineda both chipped in with three.
— Jagada Chambers
