East Union is back in the postseason after not winning a game in the Valley Oak League last year.
The Lancers secured the third and final automatic berth Friday at Dalben Center with a 42-38 victory over rival Manteca, which was without its top player for the must-win league finale.
“After last year, to be able to turn this around and go be third in the league and get a playoff spot, I think it’s a testament to these guys playing for each other,” East Union coach Dutch Ell said. “They’re not playing for themselves.”
Lorenzo Jones led the Lancers’ late charge, scoring eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, while racking up eight rebounds and three steals overall — all team highs. Zydell King added 10 points, while Jackson Pellizari produced eight points and three blocks.
“My teammates were just putting me in good positions to score,” Jones said. “They were giving me the easy ones, and that just gave me more confidence.”
East Union (7-5 VOL, 15-12 overall) was likely to qualify with an at-large bid even with a loss, as it came into the game 10th in MaxPreps’ Sac-Joaquin Section Division III rankings. The top 15 teams in the divisional rankings that don’t earn automatic berths can still qualify.
Manteca (6-6, 12-16) needed to finish third in the VOL to sneak in. Placed in the more competitive Division II field, the Buffaloes were ranked 23rd entering their final regular-season game.
“I feel bad for the seniors,” first-year Manteca coach Geoff Israel said. “Losses like this are always tough no matter what, but it hurts them a little bit more just knowing that if you win, you’re in (the playoffs), and if you lose, you’re out.”
The Buffaloes were in a tough spot this week having to wrap up league play at Central Catholic and East Union without Johan Peringelil, who broke a food during their senior night loss against Patterson last Friday, Feb. 7. His absence was felt against EU, a team the Buffaloes previously defeated, 58-42.
“He dropped 25 (points) on them last time,” Israel said. “When the best player in town goes down, it’s hard to replace that production.”
Austin Barnes, who transferred from East Union, paced the Buffaloes with 14 points, three steals and two blocks. Tyler Watkins (five assists) and Landon Butler (seven rebounds) contributed six points each.
It was a low-scoring and competitive affair until the fourth quarter, when the Lancers opened on an 11-2 run to lead, 38-27. Four different players scored in that flurry for East Union, including Robby Espinosa with a 3-pointer. Jackson Fay did not score but came up with one of the plays of the game after he had a layup blocked by Jayden Scarver. Fay stuck with it and saved the ball from going out of bounds, finding Jones cutting to the basket for an uncontested layup.
“That’s what we’ve been preaching this entire second half of the season; what wins East Union basketball games is getting ours, not getting yours,” Ell said. “Focus on being unselfish, and that play right there is simple, right? He gets his shot blocked but finds his teammate. When the moment was needed, the boys showed that all the hard work was worth it.”
Barnes kept Manteca in the game with two 3-pointers, but Jones answered with two more layups that gave East Union enough separation to win it comfortably in the final moments.
Scarver hit a cosmetic 3 with 1.3 seconds left for Manteca.
Playoff brackets will be released today. Out-bracket games are set for next Tuesday, and the first round is on Wednesday.
