The three-time defending champion East Union girls basketball team is off to a strong start in the Valley Oak League, routing Central Catholic on the road 65-36 on Thursday for its 10th straight victory.
“The girls were excited to start off league play and they came out ready to play,” EU coach Jim Agostini said. “They came out fast, and the next unit came in and played just as well in the second quarter.”
The Lancers (1-0 VOL, 16-3 overall) erupted for 21 points in each of the first two quarters and led 42-15 at halftime.
“Forty-two in a half for us is really good,” Agostini said. “And to hold a league opponent to 15 is good, and that’s with a banked 3 to end the half.”
Nylah Dyson led all scorers with 22 points and sat out the entire fourth quarter. Alessandra Montes added 10 points, and Zyondupree Beasley had seven. Samantha Nichols scored nine points for Central Catholic (0-1, 8-8).
East Union faces its cross-town rivals next week starting with Sierra at home on Tuesday. The Lancers will then head to Manteca on Thursday, Jan. 11.
Lathrop 45, Ceres 40
Visiting Ceres (0-1, 9-5 overall) jumped out to a 16-10 lead in the Western Athletic Conference opener, but the defending champion Spartans (1-0, 11-5) were able to clamp down defensively the rest of the game.
“I’m just a little disappointed with our communication defensively,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “We gave up shots we shouldn’t be giving up. We were not dialed in defensively.”
Tatiana Lowery (three assists, two steals) and Shakara Porter (13 rebounds, three steals, two blocks) led the attack with 13 points apiece. Marianna Delgado contributed six points, four rebounds and three blocks. Rianna Delacruz had nine points and four steals.
Hilmar 41, Ripon 39
The Indians (1-1 Trans-Valley League, 7-9 overall) had no answer for point guard Lilly Garza, who poured in a game-high 21 points while making two 3s and all five of her free throws.
Hilmar (1-1, 9-5) outscored Ripon 13-7 in the fourth quarter. Kaylee Lehmkuhl paced the Indians with 11 points, while Kailee Inderbitzin tallied nine points and eight rebounds.
GIRLS SOCCER
Ripon Christian 6, Delhi 0
Dayna Koolhaas added two more goals to her Sac-Joaquin Section-leading total, and that was all the Knights (3-0-1, 11-2-1 overall) in the Southern Athletic League win. Ripon Christian now has eight shutouts on the season.
Freshman Brook Barnes and Jeanne Oosterman each contributed a goal and an assist. Cora Vander Meulen and Addison DeJong scored one apiece. Alanna Blanco, Morgan Schenk, Tatum Sonke and Helia VanderMeulen chipped in with assists.
Ripon Christian travels to first-place Orestimba on Monday.
Ripon 7, Hughson 0
The Indians (1-0, 6-6-2) led 1-0 at halftime but would not be held in check for much longer.
After scoring the first-half goal, Olivia Maragos struck again in the 50th, 53rd and 55th minutes to put the game out of reach. Katie Martin added a goal and two assists. Kyla Agbayani and Katie Rhodes capped the scoring. Alyson Harvey and Madelyn McKiernan each had an assist.
Ripon finished with an overwhelming 32-0 advantage on shots over the Huskies (0-1, 1-5-2).
JV girls basketball
Lathrop 28, Ceres 27
A 10-4 third-quarter advantage helped Lathrop overcome a slow start.
Tatianna Lopez paced the Spartans with eight points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists. Kira Davis pulled down 10 rebounds to go with four points.
Ripon 39, Hilmar 25
Lauren Peters produced 15 points and five boards for Ripon, and Scarlett Ponce chimed in with 12 points.
East Union 50, Central Catholic 23
Bellah Crabb highlighted the blowout win for EU with 19 points and nine steals.
Samantha Escamilla tallied 16 points and six steals. Jerney Luckett added six points.
Frosh girls basketball
Lathrop 32, Ceres 31
Sarah Garcia sank a free throw to push Lathrop ahead for good with 4 seconds remaining. She finished with a team-high 11 points.
Hazel Beltran fired 10 points.
Ripon 24, Hilmar 19
Harasees Hayer did the bulk of the scoring with 13 points, while Olivia Phelps pitched in with five.
