The Manteca girls volleyball team captured at least a share of the Valley Oak League championship on Monday after handling Patterson on the road 25-14, 25-6, 25-14 in its regular-season finale.

Cross-town rival Sierra faced Central Catholic on Monday and closes with visiting Oakdale on Wednesday, needing to win both for a piece of the title.

The Buffaloes (10-2, 19-5 overall) were led by Taimane Tu’uga’s 18 kills and six digs. Trinity Todd fired nine kills and five aces.

Katie Anderson dished out 17 assists to go with four digs and two aces. Jill DeCosta Aldape pitched in with eight assists and three kills. Maddie Nunes anchored the defense with 10 digs and contributed five assists to the attack. Arvein Pabla picked up five digs and served two aces.

The Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs are next week. Brackets will be released Friday by 5 p.m. on the section website.

BOYS WATER POLO

DeLong Tournament

Three days after losing to rival East Union in VOL play, Sierra got a chance at redemption Saturday in its final game of the DeLong Tournament at Oakdale High.

The Timberwolves avenged the defeat in double overtime, 6-5. Dallin Murray scored the game-winner with 2:06 left in the second overtime. Kody Stone led Sierra with three goals. Tyse Goodwin scored a pair for East Union.

Sierra finished 3-1 overall, getting wins over Grace Davis (7-3) and Oakdale’s JV (13-6) while dropping a 7-3 decision to Beyer. The Lancers went 2-2, with wins over Johansen (13-3) and Oakdale JV (13-6) with a loss to 7-6 loss to Beyer.

Elsewhere in the tourney, Ripon hosted at its own pool and placed fourth in its bracket. Ripon opened with wins over Buhach Colony (16-12) and Oak Ridge (12-11) before falling to Redwood (13-3) in a semifinal and to Atascadero (19-10) in the third-place game.

FLAG FOOTBALL

Lathrop 19, Central Valley 14

In Ceres, Sareah Reed Reed’s pick-six pushed the Western Athletic Conference champion Spartans (12-1, 19-3 overall) ahead for good.

Central Valley (6-7, 7-15) had a chance to win it in the end, but Isabella Espinoza halted the threat with a sack on the Lathrop 6-yard line. Reed also finished with a team-high 10 flag pulls and a pass break-up. Aaliyah Thompson and Madilynn Nungaray added eight and seven flag pulls, respectively.

Ja’Leiyah Ray spearheaded the offense with almost 200 scrimmage yards. She had nine receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown, and 10 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Aviahna Calderon passed for 202 yards.

Lathrop closes the regular season Wednesday at home against Beyer (4-9, 7-11).

GIRLS GOLF

WAC Championship

Four Lathrop golfers locked down their spots for the SJS Division IV Tournament.

The Spartans, who went 7-5 in regular-season duals, placed fourth in the conference final held Monday at Rancho Del Ray Golf Club in Atwater.

They were led by ninth-place finisher Savanna Quezada’s 128. Shelby Jauregui (133), Evangelina Quezada (142), Jade Preciado (145) and Divine Locke (149) rounded out Lathrop’s top five.

Rachel Rani is one of Lathrop’s individual section qualifiers, joining Jauregui and the Quezadas.

The SJS Division IV Tournament is next Monday, Oct. 26 at Merced Country Club.

JV flag football

Lathrop 19, Central Valley 0

Quarterback Alexia Garcia (five of 11, 63 yards) had the connection with Ailyn Alcaraz (four catches, 60 yards), as they combined for two touchdowns. Vanescia Rodriguez helped balance the attack, ending with 53 yards and a touchdown on 10 rushes.

Ayeli Amezcua highlighted the shutout with eight flag pulls and three sacks. Shaina Ignacio pulled five flags.