TRACY — Larissa Founts-Bergerson is pleased with the growth her Sierra girls basketball team is showing through three days in the Tracy Breakfast Lions/Tom Hawkins Tournament.
The Timberwolves are playing in the consolation championship game today after coasting past Tokay 41-30 Friday at Tracy High’s Swenson Gym. Sierra (6-6) started slow in its opener Wednesday but nearly overcame a 21-point deficit in a 50-45 loss to Beyer.
Founts-Bergerson’s squad has played well since the fourth quarter of that contest.
“This tournament has been great for us to learn from our mistakes and fix them in game play the next day,” she said. “I’m proud of the way we’re playing together.”
The T’wolves staggered Tokay (7-7) from the get-go with a 14-2 first-quarter run. They took advantage of their size in the post, as Lindsey Walljasper and sophomore Natalie Dias led the way with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
“Our guards did a great job feeding it into the post,” Founts-Bergrson said. “We came out with great intensity, definitely the type of basketball I like us to play.”
She hopes the team can keep it going in its final tune-up for the Valley Oak League schedule. Sierra tangles with the winner of Silver Creek-Escalon for ninth place today starting 1:30 p.m.
Beyer 59, East Union 47
With 6-foot-2 center Donja Payne out with a sprained ankle sustained in Thursday’s win over Ripon, the Lancers (8-3) struggled to keep pace with Beyer (8-3) in the winner’s-bracket semifinal.
The Patriots took a 48-27 lead into the final period before EU broke out for 20 points.
Alicia Jones was one of three Beyer players in double figures, finishing with 24 points. Julia Vezaldenos scored nine to lead East Union, while Hailey Gosney and Mariah James each pitched in eight. The Lancers play Tracy or Carson for third place tonight at 6:30.
Patterson 63, Ripon 60
Ripon (8-3) drained 10 3s and was able to maneuver through the stifling 1-3-1 defense from Patterson (7-3), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Amaya Nelson’s 26-point outburst. She scored 21 of her points in the second half and was 12 of 14 on free throws.
Reina Sausedo led the Indians with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Tianna Sidtikun and Rachel Sausedo contributed 11 points apiece.
Ripon will look to end its three-game losing skid in the seventh-place game against Enochs at 3:30.
