Callie Crain, Tiana Cello and Jadyn Shinn carried the scoring load for Sierra’s girls soccer team on Friday, and the Timberwolves advanced to the Platinum Group winner’s bracket semifinal of their Vern Gebhardt Champions Cup.
Sierra (3-0-1) faces Pool B winner Ceres at 10:45 this morning, while Vista del Lago and Clovis North face off in the other semifinal. The third-place match follows at 1:30 p.m. with the overall championship taking place at 3:15.
Goal differential helped push the Timberwolves into the semifinal. They first battled defending Central California Conference titlist Turlock (3-0-1) to a 1-1 draw. Cello provided the equalizer in the second half for Sierra, with Shinn getting the assist.
“It was a good battle — Turlock is a rock-solid team,” Sierra coach Manuel Pires said. “They took it to us in the first half but we dominated the second half. We had seven shots on target but their goalie made some great saves.”
Earlier on Friday morning, Turlock defeated Livingston, 2-0. That meant Sierra needed to win its second match by at least three goals to clinch a spot in the first-place bracket.
Shinn got the T’wolves going with a goal in the 11th minute, and Cello followed with one six minutes later. They assisted each other’s goals.
Crain handled the rest on the second half, scoring in the 39th minute off a feed from Shinn and once more on a free kick. Goalie Michaela Bitle and the defense kept he sheet clean.
“Tomorrow is going to be a big challenge,” Pires said. “We’re pretty excited, and hopefully we can move onto the final and win our tournament.”

BOYS HOOPS
Sierra 80, West 57
TRACY — Sierra improved to 4-0, pasting the winless Wolf Pack (0-2) after breaking it open with a 31-9 second-quarter onslaught. The Timberwolves led 69-35 after three quarters.
Jaedon Malone led three post players in double figures with 18 points. Romeo Sesma added 11 points, and Eduado Jasso had eight. Sierra opens the Edison Tournament next Wednesday against Chavez at 3:30 p.m.

GIRLS HOOPS
Ripon Christian 61, Millennium 39
ESCALON — The Knights (2-1) were ahead 38-14 at halftime and the margin grew to 30 by the end of the third quarter as they rolled to the consolation championship of the Pete Arellano Memorial Tournament at Escalon High.
All-tournament selection Morgan Van Elderen poured in 23 points, while Taylor Anema pitched in 10. Freshman guard Alexa Garza had 14 points for the Falcons (0-3).

JV girls hoops
Johansen 27, Ripon Christian 17
ESCALON — Ripon Christian struggled to get shots to drop in the first of two contests Friday in the Arellano Memorial Tournament on Friday.
Abigail Laswell collected six points and 13 rebounds to pace the Knights. Kendall Pounders had four points, 11 rebounds and four steals.

Ripon Christian 59, Riverbank 10
ESCALON — Samantha Anema amassed 18 points and 11 rebounds to help the Knights break out of their offensive slump.
Pounders contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Laswell turned in 14 and eight. Kristen Van Elderen helped with eight points and six steals.

Frosh boy hoops
Ripon 49, Escalon 17
CERES — Jack Manning pumped in 16 points, and Dylan DeGraff scored 12 as the Indians rolled to victory in the Ceres Tournament.