Santiago Sanders helped host Manteca to a 19-point first quarter with eight points in the opening period, but in the end it was clutch free-throw shooting by Evani Gaeta and Peyton Niemen that carried the day for the seventh-seeded Buffaloes in a nail-biting 61-54 win over No. 10 Antelope to open the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III boys basketball playoffs.
“I thought we got the ball to Santiago (Sanders) well in the first half,” Buffaloes coach Jason Hitt said. “That is the best first-five minutes he has played. He made some moves early. After we were up 15, they started running their muck-sag defense and we went into panic mode. We had some bad turnovers and had to calm down.
“They did a really good job of not letting Peyton (Nieman) take shots. They also did a good job of containing Elijah (Nelson) and not letting him rack across the key. Elijah played a better second half, trying to find guys, and Evani (Gaeta) knocked his free throws down at the end, which was huge, and the same for Peyton. That was the difference in the game.”
The Titans (14-15) of Sacramento took the lead at 46-44 with four minutes left in the game on a field goal by A.J. Cook, as Micah Crawford (11 points, seven rebounds) responded with his second 3-pointer of the night to put Manteca (20-9) for good at 47-44.
Nieman (16 points, seven rebounds) hit 3 of 4 free throws in the fourth period and finished 7 of 9 from the line.
“Coach prepares us for free throws all the time,” Nieman said. “That prepares us for the moment, and got me ready for the end-of-game free throws.
“Our coaches told us to get to the rack, so that was my mindset, going to the rack and getting fouled. My teammates moved the ball well and when I got my touches I try to rack it to the rim and get a layup.”
Gaeta (10 points) owned the charity stripe in the fourth period, going 8 of 10 from the line down the stretch.
“We practice free throws all the time,” Gaeta said. This was a win-or-go-home game, and it is important to knock down free throws at the end of the game.”
Sanders finished with 16 points.
“The team did a good job of passing me the ball,” Sanders said. “I had to work to post up but I just had to make it happen.”
Manteca won the battle of the boards 27-14 with Nelson (four points) grabbing eight rebounds.
Juleean Alias led Antelope with 16 points with Daunte Martin chipping in 13.
The Buffaloes travel to Roseville on Friday at 7 p.m. to take on second-seeded West Park.
