By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
1970: Buff cagers snap 3 year Oakdale losing streak
Placeholder Image
Seventy years ago, on February 27, 1940, Manteca High School’s Buffalo cagers won their first game of an elimination series for the championship of Central California on the local hardwoods when they handed Coach Sig Lien’s Tracy High Bulldogs a 32-24 lacing. Sharp-shooting “Frenchy” Guisto, although having an off-night, snagged high scoring honors with 13 points. George Dadasovich, starting slowly in the first half, came through nicely in the clutch and scored 10.

In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

90 years ago: February 27, 1920 - Manteca was represented by a good delegation at the meeting in Merced Monday at which the proposed San Joaquin Valley Baseball League was discussed. The following went up to take part in the discussions: P. J. Peltier, K. D. McBrian, Percey Toomes, George Koster, Fred Cannon and Benny Fauls.

80 years ago: February 27, 1930 - A board of directors for the Manteca Baseball Club was elected and plans made for entering the Don Pedro League this year at a meeting of local baseball fans in the City Hall Friday night. The new board is composed of R. P. Smith, Frank Foster and Louis Ryan. Smith has had considerable experience in baseball, having managed the Farmington team in the County League.

60 years ago: March 2, 1950 - By defeating Oakdale High 47-38 on the Oakdale court, Manteca High, coupled with Ceres’ victory over Tracy, went back into a tie for the top spot in the Valley Oak League standings. The game took place last week. Junior forward Ray Dellavecchia was the game’s high scorer with 19 points. Jess Payan picked up 18 points for the Buffaloes.

50 years ago: March 3, 1960 - Frank Lambert of Manteca High was this week named to the 1960 Manteca Bulletin All-VOL basketball team. Lambert was one of the outstanding performers in the conference and finished third in scoring with 174 points in 10 league games.     

Manteca High ended a sad season on an even sadder note last Friday night by losing a 46-39 encounter to Oakdale High. The loss dropped the Buffaloes into fifth place in the VOL standings with a 3-7 record. The loss was the fifth straight for the Buffs, who failed to win a VOL encounter after January 29.

40 years ago: February 27, 1970 - East Union High squeezed by Riverbank High 63-62 at Riverbank’s new gym last week. Ken Richichi led the way for the Lancers with 16 points, while Jeff Snyder added 12.

Those frustrating Manteca High Buffaloes did it again, pulled another upset and this time over the proud Oakdale High team in their own stable. The overwhelming 85-67 come-from-behind victory marked the first time in three years the Buffs have managed to defeat an Oakdale High team. Big Al Betschart  

led the Buffaloes with 31 points, followed by Mark Liles with 15 and Dave Crawford with 14 points.

30 years ago: February 26, 1980 - Manteca High turned to seniors Mitch Crawford and Fred Nelson for help in difficulty last night and the leaders did not disappoint. The two combined for 22 points in the final 11 minutes to power the Buffaloes to a 67-61 overtime victory over stubborn Oakdale High in the finals of the VOL Playoff Tournament at East Union High’s Dalben Center. The win left the Buffs with an overall record of 21-5 on the season and extended their winning streak to 14 games. Crawford finished with 23 points and Nelson had 13.

East Union High and Manteca High wrestling teams each produced one weight class champion and the surprising Lancers pulled off an unexpected third place finish in the 1980 sub-section wrestling championships which concluded yesterday afternoon at Dalben Center. EU’s 141-pound Bob Armstrong and Manteca High’s Leandro Perez, at 98 pounds, captured top honors in their respective weight divisions.

The Edison High baseball squad connected for two third-inning singles and took advantage of a couple of miscues to top East Union High 2-1 yesterday afternoon in the season opener for both teams at EUHS. The contest had to be called after six innings due to darkness. Tony Martin’s towering double in the third inning drove Bob Hartley home with the lone Lancer run.

Coach Steve Winter’s Manteca High golfers placed second in a four-way match with East Union, Tracy and Atwater high schools Monday in the season-opener in Atwater. Coach Ed Williams’ Lancers placed third. Vince Buzzini shot a 37 for the Buffaloes and Dennis Essenwein had a 39 for EU.

Manteca High out-hit Grace Davis High 6-4 yesterday afternoon in Modesto but wound up on the short end of a 4-2 decision in their 1980 debut. Kelly Ellifritz doubled and scored a run for the Buffaloes in the second inning.