Ryan Culpepper beat the buzzer, and his Manteca Buffaloes’ sophomore boys basketball team beat upset-minded Weston Ranch as a result.
Culpepper’s high-arching 3-pointer from NBA range decided Manteca’s thrilling 46-43 Valley Oak League victory Wednesday at Winter Gym.
Culpepper’s long-range bomb put an end to Weston Ranch’s torrid comeback. Down 26-15 at halftime, the Cougars used an 18-4 spurt in the third to take the lead.
The Buffaloes (4-2, 12-4 overall) were led by center Eric Godfrey’s 14 points. Josh Walters fired in 10, and Taylor Hasal nine.
Lorenzo Simmons keyed the second-half rally for Weston Ranch (2-3, 7-8), tying it at 43-all with 30 seconds left off a missed free throw. Simmons finished with 16 points, Jesus Fuentes contributed 10 and DiVante Deleon nine.
At Dalben Center, Eddie Andrade scored 15 points to lead visiting Sierra (4-2, 7-8) to victory. Edy Guzman added 11 points.
TeeJay Gordon and Caleb Towle paced the Squires, who hit just four of 16 free-throw attempts, with eight points apiece.
Manteca 53, Weston Ranch 42
The host Buffaloes (5-1, 12-5) staved off Weston Ranch’s second-half charge for the victory.
Kenny Gaines recorded a game-high 19 points, with Tim Baker and Ruben Stewart checking in with 10 each.
Host East Union (6-0, 13-2) continued its roll behind Wayne Chung’s 11 points, Alex Del Rio’s nine points, seven rebounds and eight blocks and Brock Swift’s seven assists.
Jojo Berry nailed three 3-pointers for most of his 11 points for Sierra, which was ahead 20-19 at halftime. Tim Thornton chipped in nine points.
Junior Varsity
East Union 42, Manteca 0
Wells’ fall came with three seconds left in the opening period, while Aleman recorded his in 3 minutes, 1 second.
Weston Ranch 49, Central Valley 23
Devon Brown (140) and Mark Dano (171) both had two pins to lead the way.
Weston Ranch hosts Oakdale and Sierra next Wendesday, and the it can clinch a share of the title by beating both.
