The Sierra High sophomore girls basketball claimed its second non-league tournament championship Monday, this time winning its own 14th Annual Lady Timberwolves Rotary Classic by beating West of Tracy, 34-30.

Sierra’s Stephanie Vanni was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. All-tournament selection Alysia Atkins had 14 points in the title game.

Lyssa Allen added six points, while Jordan Johnson pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

It was nip and tuck throughout the first half until the Timberwolves (11-1) gave themselves some breathing room with a 10-5 run in the third quarter.

Coach Arsenio Costa hopes his team can continue its play when it opens Valley Oak League action Jan. 6 against visiting Sonora.

“In the two tournaments we played in, we went up against some very strong teams from different leagues,” he said. “That was good for us, because it prepared us for league.”

The Timberwolves dominated their crosstown rival in the semifinal round behind Vanni’s 12 points and Allen’s 10 on Monday.

Jasmine Currimao dished out six assists, and Daylynn Penner pulled down seven rebounds.

Allen had nine points to lead a balanced scoring effort in Sierra’s tournament opener Saturday. Bryttni Griffin turned in eight points, Johnson grabbed eight rebounds and Atkins added seven of her own.

Led by Eric Godfrey’s 19 points, the Buffaloes managed to outplay Edison down the stretch and improve their preseason record to 8-2 en route to capturing the Block M championship Tuesday night.

“It was a great team effort for us tonight,” head coach Jimmy Perez said. “The Walters twins did a great job guarding one of their better players — it was just a good all-around defensive effort for us.”

Jahan Petiford also cracked the double-digit scoring mark with 12 points, while Josh Walters chipped in seven.

Jerod Patton led three Timberwolves in double digits with 12 points in the consolation semifinals Monday.
Grant Widmer and Maurico Roberts added 10 each.

TeeJay Gordon’s 14 points helped East Union cruise to an easy victory Tuesday night to seal-up seventh place in the Block M tournament.

Lawrence Baran contributed and points, and the victory improved East Union’s record to 5-4.

Despite trailing by almost 20 points at the half, Sierra managed to rally back Tuesday in the consolation championship of the Block M Tournament before falling to Tracy in the fourth quarter.

“The game was much closer than the score shows,” head coach Justin Muschott said. “The lid was on our basket in the first half — we missed a lot of open shots under the basket, and if we would have made half of those we would have won tonight.

“Tracy’s a good team.”

Jerrod Patton led the way for Sierra with 12 points, and Grand Widmer chipped in 10. Eddie Andrade rounded out Sierra’s scoring with six points.

They will take the court next on Jan. 7 when they travel to Sonora to start the Valley Oak League season.

Holding a margin of almost 20 points was enough for the Lancers to walk away with the Block M freshman championship Tuesday night when they downed the Modesto Panthers.

Led by Brandon Cline’s impressive 18 points, the early lead East Union built only grew throughout the game — widened by Huck Swift’s 13 points and Alex Del Rio’s 10 points.

Del Rio also pulled down seven rebounds.

“We really wanted it — we didn’t want to lose again,” head coach Brett Lewis said. “The guys played hard, and we came open and we were ready to play.”