Thirty years ago, on December 19, 1986, Manteca High converted 23
of 27 free throw attempts, including six bonus attempts in the final minute, to capture an emotional 67-55 win over Elk Grove High for the championship of the Nevada Union Invitational Basketball Tournament in Grass Valley. Rob Van De Pol sparked the Buffaloes with 17 point s and 11 rebounds. Kevin Wentworth added 16 points and Chad Johnson had 11 counters. Marshall Cannon, who scored 49 points in the tourney, was named the event’s Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tourney team by teammates Wentworth and Johnson.

In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:
10 years ago: December 27, 2006 – When the Manteca High baseball team begins conditioning drills after the holiday break, it will be led by a new head coach, Neil MacDannald, who takes over from Erik Brink. MacDannald was an assistant coach for Brink on last year’s Buffalo squad. Brink, who is also the Buffs’ sophomore football coach, is stepping back from some coaching duties as a second child arrives in his family.
Sierra High snapped a three-game losing streak by pulling off a 62-53 non-league basketball victory over Ripon High Friday. Ryan Harris netted 11 points for the Timberwolves.
Sierra High’s girls’ basketball team held Stagg High to single-digit scoring in three of four quarters Thursday evening, helping to propel the T’wolves to a 48-33 non-league victory. Sierra sophomore Heather Scharmann registered 11 points to go with her 15 rebounds.
The Manteca High girls’ basketball team used a strong second half to outlast the Buhach Colony High team 60-44 in Atwater Wednesday. Sughey Cervantes had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Kym Gause contributed 10 points and 10 more rebounds to the Lady Buff effort.

20 years ago: December 22, 1996 – East Union High survived water-soaked field conditions and a battle of nerves to finish the Lincoln Soccer Tournament at third place in the B Division, beating Stagg High 1-0 on Saturday in Stockton. Sophomore Marcy Perez scored about 20 minutes into the match for the Lady Lancers.

30 years ago: December 21, 1986 – Manteca High’s girls’ cagers coasted to a ho-hum 36-24 victory over Stagg High in the third-place game of the Delta Queens Tournament in Stockton Saturday. Joette Lucas, who was named to the all-tourney team, finished with 12 points to lead the Lady Buffs.
Concord’s Clayton Valley High, despite making just 18 of 35 free throws, rolled to a commanding 67-43 victory over the East Union High girls Friday night in the first round of the Tracy tournament. EU had four girls foul out of the contest and hit on just 18 of 39 free throw attempts. Starters Kelli Horton, Tracy Lee and Stacy Lee, plus reserve Barbara Jones all fouled out for the Lady Lancers. The locals were led by Stacy Lee (13 points) and Dina Ueda (12 points).

40 years ago: December 22, 1976 – Leading by only seven after three periods, the Manteca High Buffaloes exploded for 25 point s in the final eight minutes to defeat Summerville High 79-65 last Friday night in Tuolumne. The victory was Manteca’s sixth straight against two losses.  The Buffs’ fine junior forward, Bob O’Rourke, engineered Manteca’s pull-away, finishing with 22 points. Peter Duenas collected 12 points and Tim Runge and James Harris added 11 apiece.
The Beyer High Patriots nullified a mild second-half rally by East Union High to run away with a 70-42 victory over the Lancers last Thursday night at Dalben Center. Tim Tucker and Russell Stewart had 13 points apiece to lead the EU scoring.
Jack Van Strijp continued his scoring spree last Friday afternoon and the Manteca High soccer team is suddenly making a move in the Mid-Valley League. The foreign exchange student from the Netherlands netted three shots and added two assists as the Buffaloes rolled past Downey High 6-2 in Modesto. Brad Steele scored twice and Ray Valencia tallied one.

50 years ago: December 21, 1966 – A stale first period of play, during which the Manteca High Buffaloes were able to score only seven points, handicapped the Buffs during the remainder of the contest Friday night as Turlock High won by its first-period, 14-point margin, 55-51. Curt Duran paced the locals with 13 points, while Mel Montanio followed with 12.

60 years ago: December 27, 1956 – The Manteca High cagers dropped their third game of the season while playing Modesto High for the second time, the score being 58 to 47. John Schwartz was Manteca’s high scorer of the game with 13 points.

80 years ago: December 24, 1936 – The Manteca High School basketball team won its first game in four starts Friday afternoon when it defeated Escalon High 32 to 24. Anderson and Lusk, playing center and forward, respectively, took the laurels for fine playing throughout the game. Anderson scored six points on his own account to follow Lusk closely for high-point honors. Lusk made seven points.