TRACY — File this one under the “and it wasn’t that close” category.

Weston Ranch High’s boys basketball team rebounded from its first loss of the season by trouncing in-town Stockton rival Franklin 78-53 in the first round of the Tracy Winter Holiday Classic Monday at Swenson Gym.

And it really wasn’t that close.

It took 1 minute, 19 seconds for the Cougars (4-1) to open up a 9-0 lead, and by the end of the opening quarter it was 31-8. Weston Ranch’s largest lead was 37, established with 2:28 to go in the third quarter when reserve Camron Turner’s mid-range jumper made it 69-32.

Weston Ranch had its entire starting lineup benched by the start of the fourth quarter, when the substitutes were outscored 18-9. Next is Enochs — a 74-67 victor over Valley-Sacramento-tonight at 6 p.m. in the winner’s bracket quarterfinals.

It was a nice bounce-back from last week’s anticipated showdown with McNair, another Stockton rival. The Cougars were embarrassed by the 72-52 defeat in which they were hammered on the boards failed to execute efficiently on offense on offense.

“We didn’t want to underestimate (Franklin),” said Weston Ranch guard Andre Beard. “We just came out fighting and had to keep our heads up after that loss. We had to do a better job of (limiting) turnovers and rebounding.”

Weston Ranch had just 10 turnovers over the first three quarters before finishing with 17, while dominating the boards, 50-32.

Beard scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half and pulled down eight rebounds, and senior backcourt mate Melvin Allen pitched in nine points and three steals in limited action. EJ Allen came off the bench and contributed to Weston Ranch’s first-quarter run with six straight points, finishing with nine overall.

 The Cougars’ trio of sophomore starters was also in on the fun: wing forward Dylan Alexander scored 13 points; 6-foot-7 center Daiveon Leverett recorded nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks while throwing down two dunks; and guard Zerrion Payton chipped in nine points and four assists.

Marcelo Zamarripa, a 6-6 forward, had 12 points and five blocked shots to pace Franklin (1-8).

“The goal of our offense is to get somebody open,” Weston Ranch coach Ryan Bono said. “If we run our offense right and play team basketball … we become pretty tough (to defend).”