Manteca went cold offensively in the third quarter of its Valley Oak League boys basketball opener Monday and could not recover in the 61-48 loss at Central Catholic.

The Buffaloes (6-8), who jumped out to an 8-3 lead, could only muster five points in the third period, as they trailed 39-31 going into the fourth. Central Catholic (9-7) led by as much as 19, 57-28.

Austin Barnes led them with 10 points, Madden Melendez scored 10 and Antonio Fraley added eight.

The Raiders (9-7) were buoyed by Jordan Magana and Amari Waterford, who poured in 21 and 20 points, respectively.

Lathrop 72, Pacheco 40

The Spartans (8-6) tipped off Western Athletic Conference play Monday in Los Banos and won handily.

Bryan Gamboa spearheaded them with 15 points and three assists, Nicolas Arceo addd 15 points and five steals. Justin Neal produced 13 points, five assists and three steals.

Lathrop also won the JV game in a landslide, 66-20. The freshman game ended in favor of the Spartans, 37-9.

Kimball 56, River Islands 53 (OT)

On Saturday, River Islands (5-8) rallied after a sluggish start in the non-league contest in Tracy.

Charles Mapanao extended the thriller with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime.

Mapanao ended up with nine points. Darius Radoc Factoran led the Riptide with 13 points, and Zach Basurto pitched in with 10.

Kimball (10-7) scored the first nine points of the game and led 17-8 after the first quarter. The Spartans surged to a 44-33 lead in the third quarter.

River Islands is at Downey tonight.

GIRLS SOCCER

Sierra 4, Pitman 1

Freshman Diana Reyes powered the Timberwolves (12-4) with a hat trick in the non-league clash Monday on the road.

Zoe Sutton pitched in with a goal and an assist. Maitland Kohoutek, Leslie Reyes and Kaylee Rodriguez each had an assist.

Sierra totaled 19 shots, 14 on goal. Goalie Ava Bonilla came up with four saves.

Manteca 8, Modesto 0

Last Friday, Jazmine Aguilar scored four goals, all in succession, for the host Buffaloes (11-2-1).

Paisley Coenenberg contributed one goal and two assists. Layla Flanigan and Kailee Jackson each pitched in one goal and one assist. Leslie Gutierrez pitched in a goal, while Brooklyn Cornish and Natalia Ramirez each had an assist.

Manteca returns to league action Wednesday at Mountain House.

JV girls basketball

East Union 66, Beyer 6

It was all Lancers (12-4) in the non-league tilt on Saturday, as they surrendered just two points in each of the first three quarters before holding Beyer scoreless in the fourth.

East Union had 10 different scorers led by Elle Baluyut’s 17 points, including three made 3s in the first quarter. Camille Christensen contributed 14 points.

JV boys basketball

Central Catholic 58, Manteca 54
Manteca came up short Monday in Modesto despite 26 points from Mateo Gonzalez. Malachi Mix added 16 points.

Frosh boys basketball

Central Catholic 46, Manteca 35
Wyatt Noonkester spearheaded the Buffaloes with 12 points. Ryant Lewis chimed in with nine, and Jordan Rossi had eight.