East Union’s girls basketball team played its best game of the early season Monday but doesn’t have a win to show for it.

Host Modesto High escaped with a 51-50 victory thanks to a 3-pointer buried by Tia Patterson with 8.9 seconds remaining. East Union (1-2) earlier had a chance to extend a two-point lead when the Panthers tried to put a Lancer on the foul line, but a turnover set Modesto up with its eventual game-winning possession.

East Union coach Jim Agostini said that neither team led by no more than four points and that on three occasions in the first half one squad answered a 3-pointer with one of its own.

“It was a good high school game,” he said. “You of course want to win every game, but it was a good experience for our young team to be in a tight game early in the year. It’s a game we can definitely learn from.”

Victoria Vezaldenos paced the Lancers (1-2) with 15 points, and freshman point guard Olivia Vezaldenos added 13 points, nine assists and five steals. Nayeli Del Real had eight points and six rebounds, while Marina Salyer sank three 3s for her nine points.

East Union looks to bounce back against Atwater Wednesday at Dalben Center.



Sophomore

East Union 44, Modesto 34

Alissa Burrola posted 10 points and six rebounds in a balanced effort for the Squires (4-2).

Anna Wood contributed nine points and seven boards, and Destiny Flores registered eight points