CERES — Jim Agostini was concerned that his East Union girls basketball players were running on weary legs in their nonleague contest at Central Valley on Wednesday.

He was glad to have been proven wrong.

Led by Olivia Vezaldenos, the Lancers outlasted the Hawks with a 14-7 burst in the fourth quarter to race away with a 52-45 victory and improve to 8-0.

East Union travelled to Sonora the night before, the Central Valley game was its third in as many days. The Hawks (6-6) were ahead 26-23 at halftime.

“Central Valley came out with real good energy,” Agostini said. “I looked at (assistant coach Rich) Marsh and said, ‘We’re just not all there.’ We needed to eventually match their energy and the girls did that. As we got (deeper) into the second half we got stronger, I thought.”

Vezaldenos spearheaded the charge, scoring 17 of her game-high 24 points in the second half. She also dished out five assists. Ruby Daube pitched in with 12 points.

Agostini also lauded the efforts of his post players, 6-foot-2 freshman Donja Payne and 6-1 senior Ciara Goodwin. Payne grabbed nine of her 20 rebounds on the offensive end, adding seven steals, five assists and eight points to her impressive stat line. Goodwin contributed five points, six rebounds and three blocks. Adria Robinson led Central Valley with 15 points, and Alyssa Costa had 10.

“The defense just got after it in the fourth quarter, I couldn’t applaud the effort on defense anymore,” Agostini said. “We had guards diving on the floor for loose balls and post players holding them to one shot and getting blocks.”

East Union will look to keep its undefeated streak rolling on Saturday when it tips off the Tracy Breakfast Lions/Tom Hawkins Tournament with Edison at 5 p.m.

Ripon 43, Los Banos 29

RIPON — The lids were bound to come off the rims, said Ripon coach George Contente. He was right.

With both teams struggling from the field and the Indians leading 19-17 after three quarters, Ripon (4-4) exploded for 24 points in the fourth behind point guard Jill Jamero’s five points and four assists.

“The same thing happened the night before against Sierra,” Contente said. “I just told the kids they’re going to go in at some point, just keep taking the shots because they were taking a lot of good ones.”

Ally Meza of Los Banos (3-5) was the lone double-digit scorer with 11 points, but Ripon countered with balance as Savanah Clark, Mia Van Lewen, Carla Calderon and Jamero poured in eight points apiece.

Ripon begins the West Coast Jamboree against Mt. Shasta at Berean Christian of Walnut Creek next Monday.

Turlock 36, Manteca 33

TURLOCK — Turlock (5-5) scored seven unanswered points in the final 1:30 to escape with the victory. The Buffaloes (2-6) were minus standout guard Sydnee Fryer but still had chances to win. They made just three of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter and were 12 for 24 overall.

Elizabeth Tolbert helped carry the load for Manteca, scoring a game-high 12 points. Lejla Pepic added 11 points, four steals and two blocks, and Leah Manuleleua secured 15 rebounds. Six-foot freshman Jaydon Williams turned in 11 points for Turlock, which was 11 of 23 from the foul line.

Freshman

Central Valley 44,

East Union 28

CERES — Jaha Scott-Minor led the Lancers with eight points. Brianna Capps and Sarah Gleockler chimed in with five apiece.