Weston Ranch mounted a late charge but came up short in a 53-50 loss to Merced in the semifinal round of the 37th Annual Tony Contreras Delta Queen Classic at Stagg High on Friday.

The Cougars (3-1) were shorthanded to start as players were benched for showing up tardy. Merced (4-2) took advantage to stake a 19-8 first quarter lead.

With Elisabeth Alexander leading the way, Weston Ranch answered with a 13-4 second-quarter run and nursed a four-point advantage early in the fourth. Untimely turnovers and missed free throws stunted the comeback. The Cougars were 3-for-10 from the foul line in the final period and 12-for-29 overall.

“It was nip and tuck at the end,” Weston Ranch coach Chris Bauer said. “We got the turnovers when we needed them with our press, but we couldn’t execute our plays offensively. Tough loss, but I’d rather have a game like this in the preseason so we can learn from it and grow.”

Alexander accumulated 19 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and five blocks. Faizah Bass turned in 11 points, and Patricia King contributed eight points and seven boards. Point guard Lexi Thompson paced Merced (4-2) with 19 points, and Alexis Pierce added 14.

Lizzy 19 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, five blocks

The Cougars encounter McNair at 5 tonight in the third-place game. Kimball (4-0) awaits Merced in the championship.

Lodi Tournament

Manteca 33,
West 18

The Buffaloes (2-1) offset their offensive struggles with good defense, as they limited West of Tracy to seven points or less in each quarter.

West had no answer for Leah Manuleleua, the game’s only double-digit scorer with 14 points. Manteca takes on former Valley Oak League foe Sonora today at noon.

Lincoln Tournament

Lincoln 81, Sierra 32

Lianna Tillman (14 points) and Celeste Alemndarez (13 points) led a balanced scoring effort for the 4-0 Trojans, who led 55-13 at halftime and made 11 3-pointers.

Kristen Maestretti scored 10 points for Sierra (1-2).

Liberty Tournament

Ripon Christian 58,
Richmond 14

Carly Tillema anchored Ripon Christian’s win in Brentwood with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Julia Ray added 10 points and six rebounds for the Knights (3-2), while Pam Radach contributed eight points and eight boards.

River City Tournament

Folsom 53, Lathrop 12

Danya Phillips scored half of Lathrop’s points, while Folsom rolled to its fifth straight win to start the season.

The Spartans, now 0-3, challenges Valley at 9 a.m. in their first of two games today.

Sophomore

East Union 58, Tracy 37

Jessica Bautista poured in 13 points, and Haley Gosney added 12 as the Squires (4-0) coasted into the championship game of their own Camelot Classic on Friday. They tangle with cross-town rival Manteca at 7:30 tonight.

East Union 58,
 Ripon Christian 25

On Thursday, Gosney paced East Union with 14 points, while Bautista followed with 11. Elena Haena chipped in eight.

Ripon Christian 48,
Modesto 25

Lyndsay Van Groningen pulled down 23 rebounds, 12 on offense, while scoring nine points for Ripon Christian.

Abby Buitrago racked up a double-double with 10 points and 14 steals. Beth Weststeyn chimed in with nine points and 14 boards. The Knights battle rival Ripon in the consolation title game today.

Freshman

Lathrop 50, East Union 10

The Spartans outscored the Camelot Classic host 15-0 in the second quarter and never looked back.

Kayla Montoya led East Union with four points. The Pages face Ripon Christian for third place at 3 p.m.