Sixty years ago, on December 20, 1951, Manteca High turned in one of their poorest showings of the year when they were knocked out of the Modesto Basketball Carnival with two straight defeats. In the opener, the Buffaloes lost to Denair High 37-26. Playing two 10-minute halves, the players were limited to three personal fouls apiece. This proved costly for the Buffaloes as three of the first five were ejected from the game. The locals were once again led by forward Joe Coito who picked up 13 points.



In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

40 years ago: December 27, 1971 - East Union High journeyed south for the Los Banos Holiday Basketball Tournament and lost a pair before defeating Hilmar High and gaining a seventh-place finish last week. The Lancers did not do well in their first encounter of the tournament, losing to Gustine High 69-43. Mike Crosby led the EU scorers with 15 points, Larry Hawkins had 14 and Brad Stone added 12. The Lancers played their best game of the season against Chowchilla High even though they lost the contest 75-67. This was their closest score, except for Ripon, and Coach Carl Bosque felt that Chowchillla was a very good team, even better than Gustine. With the exception of the score, the Lancers were ahead in every department. Ed Downes proved a real asset by grabbing 10 rebounds. Crosby led the Lancer scoring with 26 points, with Hawkins and Stone adding 18 and 15 points. In their third game, East Union came up with a 78-64 victory over a stubborn Hilmar High team. The Lancers had five players scoring in double figures, with Stone leading the way with 23 points. Crosby scored 18, Homer Chavez had 13 and Downes and Hawkins collected 11 apiece.

Putting on their finest display of complete basketball yet seen at the Linden Holiday Tournament, Ripon Christian High smashed Manteca High 101-69 to win the championship Wednesday night.



30 years ago: January 1, 1982 - St. Mary’s High spurted to a 19-4 first-period lead and never looked back en route to a 66-37 non-league victory over East Union High in girls basketball action Wednesday night. Tracy Fletcher paced EU with nine points.

Scott Brooks’ last shot of the game not only boosted his confidence but gave his team a victory to boot. The junior guard--triple-teamed--launched a 30-foot rainbow, just from the right of the key, that hit nothing but net and lifted East Union High to a scintillating 44-43 victory over host Oakdale High in the Oakdale Holiday Classic Wednesday night. The win, EU’s tenth in 14 starts, gave the Lancers a third-place trophy. Brooks finished the game with 13 points and four steals, while Larry Lee pulled down 10 rebounds. On the night before, EU and Beyer High had battled for the third time in the short season and, at the end of 32 minutes of play, two free throws proved to be the difference as the Patriots topped the Lancers 56-54. Lee was the top EU scorer with 17 points, while Brooks had 12 and Ted McDonald netted 10. In the opening round game for EUHS, Lee poured in 17 points, collected 11 rebounds and blocked three shots as the Lancers dropped Escalon High 67-48. Adding to the 6-8 Lee’s total was McDonald with 14 points, five assists and three steals. Dan Cunial, in his second start, responded with 13 points.



20 years ago: December 28, 1991 - Monica Souza and Evette Fatzer each scored two goals as East Union High defeated Manteca High 4-1 on Friday morning and earn a trip to the consolation championship of the Lincoln Girls Soccer Tournament. The battle of the two Manteca-based squads was still up for grabs until midway through the first half when the EU girls, who are now 4-4 overall, exploded for two quick goals. The two Lady Lancers scored again in the second half off assists from Jyl Phelps. Linda Jimenez gave the Lady Buffs (2-7) a brief spark by scoring in the second half, while Meredith Davis had a good all-around effort, according to MHS coach Tracy Grainger.

Both Jason Ramos and Vince Elliott of Manteca High are one win from reaching the finals of the prestigious Western States Wrestling Classic being held at the University of California at Davis. Also, all seven team members representing Manteca High are still alive as the team sits in sixth place in the tourney, which involves more than 50 schools. Ramos, competing in the 114-pound division, and Elliott (132) are each 3-0 after Friday’s competition.

With a fuel tank on empty and the key cog on the bench, the East Union High girls basketball team drew on a reserve energy supply to hold off stubborn Atwater High 50-46 in overtime to claim the championship of the Tracy Tournament Saturday night. Playing their finest game of the season, the 11-4 Lady Lancers rallied from an early 11-point deficit, overcame the loss of forward Danelle Liles and failed to fold in an overtime in which they fell behind twice. Nicole Carter, an EU sophomore, tallied 19 points, five rebounds and three steals to garner the tourney MVP honors. Liles was named to the all-tournament team, as was Manteca High’s Erin Lathrop.



10 years ago: December 30, 2001 - The East Union High girls took second place at the Tracy Breakfast Lions Basketball Tournament after the Lady Lancers lost to West High in the championship game, 71-47. Amy Haapanen, an all-tournamant selection, scored 18 points and hauled down nine rebounds for EU. Teammate Priscilla Munoz was also chosen to the all-tourney team.