East Union trailed by six points with 1:49 to go after Alana Bella drained her fourth 3-pointer for visiting Manteca in a lively Valley Oak League clash Thursday at Dalben Center.
Taylor Snaer took it from there for the Lancers, hitting a clutch 3 of her own while accounting for seven points — including two dagger free throws with 6.6 seconds remaining — in a closing 10-0 run.
East Union had to find a way to triumph 58-54, and to coach Jim Agostini the answer was simple:
“The league MVP played like a league MVP,” he said. “It took something special to close the game on a 10-0 run. I believe in my team, and I believe in their confidence and how they play.”
Snaer finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and four steals but made just 13 of 25 free throws. Before toeing the stripe for her final two attempts of the night, she was 4-of-10 in the fourth quarter.
“I was in the gym earlier today hitting my free throws,” Snaer said. “I just kept telling myself that I’ve been here before, I gotta hit these and I gotta put the game away.
“I just wanted to win,” she added. “I wanted to get it for my team. They were working hard, so I had to do this for them. We did it for each other.”
Both teams went into the rivalry rumble riding four-game winning streaks. East Union (3-0 VOL, 15-4 overall) has now won four straight against the Buffaloes (2-1, 12-4) and seven of the last eight meetings.
Freshman Nylah Dyson kept the Lancers afloat in the early going, scoring 11 of her 15 points in the first half. Snaer had eight points at halftime and was held to one in the second period. Donnese Payne came up with big buckets in crunch time and totaled nine points and 13 rebounds.
Bella’s 12 points off the bench paced Manteca, which was done in by foul trouble. Jada Ikharo added 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Michailla Springs tallied 10 points. Kerena Malone collected six points 14 rebounds and two blocks. Brianna Parker chipped in six points, four assists and five steals.
The Buffaloes were whistled for 32 fouls against 10 for East Union and had four players foul out. Overall, the Lancers converted 22 of 44 free throws, while Manteca finished 6-of-10.
“We let Taylor Snaer get 30 points,” Manteca coach Oscar Calix said. “If we minimize that, cross out half of it, it’s our game. We got into foul trouble, some of those calls were questionable, but we just have to fight through it.
“Having four key players foul out really hurt us at the end. All of those players can score, and we needed them at the end of the game. We just didn’t have the (firepower). Overall, I thought they played hard, there are just some little things we have to execute on.”
Manteca was able to bother East Union with its pressing defense, forcing 29 turnovers while committing 16 of its own.”
The Lancers made up for it by dominating the glass, ending with a 48-33 advantage on rebounds. Freshman Ava Barrera did not score but pitched in with seven rebounds and three steals. Trinidad Forbing also pulled down seven boards, and Mariela Navarro secured six.
Agostini said the three areas emphasized going into the contest were limiting turnovers, rebounding and transition defense. On this night, two out of the three was enough.
“I thought my young team showed grit tonight,” he said. “We had some role players do some good things. You have to have grit to get on the floor for loose balls or to get rebounds. You have to want to do it.”
East Union next hosts Ripon on Saturday for their annual Hoops for the Cure Classic before returning to VOL play Tuesday at Oakdale.
“We didn’t win a league title tonight and we didn’t lose a league title, but it did put us in a nice, little space for right now,” Agostini said.
Meanwhile, urgency has set in for Manteca, with another contending opponent to deal with. Next Tuesday, the Buffs travel to Tracy to play Kimball (3-0, 16-2).
“This just lit a fire under our butt,” Calix said. “Come Tuesday, the girls will be ready to bounce back. We’ll go back to work tomorrow. We can be mad about it tonight, but tomorrow is a new day.”
Junior varsity
Manteca 45, East Union 37
Manteca overcame a seven-point deficit and outscored the host Lancers 16-1 in the final quarter for the victory.
Jayda Anderson led the Buffaloes with 20 points, Aaliyah Rae Jacobs added nine and Tamayah Valentine had eight.
Bellah Crabb paced East Union with 13 points and five steals. M.J. Simon registered 11 points and eight rebounds.
