Fifty years ago, on December 16, 1964, the surprising Manteca High Buffaloes rolled to their second straight Valley Oak League win by posting a 69-62 win over St. Mary’s High of Stockton. The locals were led by the scoring of Mike Hopper with 23 points, while Mike Iribarren had 19 points.

In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

40 years ago: December 21, 1974 - Bill Ruble was named Manteca High football Player of the Year at last week’s Lions Club dinner honoring the team. Considered an outstanding athlete as well as a mature and responsible young man by his coaches, Ruble not only held down his linebacking spot on defense, but was a stellar performer on offense, leading the Buffaloes in rushing. In addition to his team awards, Bill was also selected as an all-VOL linebacker. The 6-1 senior also play s forward on the Buffalo basketball team.

The East Union High gymnastics team was the unexpected victor in the first home meet of the season last week against Oakdale High. Taking firsts for EU were Antoinette Navalta on the balance beam and Tina Russell on the uneven bars.

Manteca High’s wrestlers were outclassed in the heavier weights last week and lost to Lincoln High. Buffaloes pinning their men were Steve Serros (103), Rex Gonsalez (120), Mark Thompson (127) and Jose Alvarado (191).

After winning the East Union Invitational Tournament last week, the Manteca High cage team made its 1974 home debut in a 66-46 loss to Atwater High. Paul Hafer led the Buffalo scorers with 12 points.

East Union High proved a gracious host for the powerful Linden High wrestling team last Thursday as they dropped a 43-25 decision to the visiting Lions. Top-ranked 120-pounder Ed Franco got the locals their first score as he took just 1:06 to pin Felix Lazama. Other Lancer pins were registered by Jennings Wilson (175) and Dave Rogers (191).

Friday, the Thirteenth had to prove unlucky for somebody and East Union High assumed the role as they were completely outclassed by a powerful Tracy High quintet 76-45 in a non-league basketball game at the Bulldog gym. EU was the decided underdog before the game began and matters weren’t helped as injured starters Chris Elliott and Steve Aufdermaur watched the action from the sidelines. Dana Taylor had 18 and Ray Miller 10 to lead the Lancer scoring.

Nino Gatti booted a goal after seven minute s of action and Bruce King rammed in a score three minutes later to give Manteca High a 2-0 soccer win over East Union High last week.

Lori Watson was Manteca High’s leading gymnast in the home meet with Sonora High which left MHS winning 35.5-24.5. Lori placed first in floor exercise, second in vault and third on the uneven bars.

With eight points being pumped in by Denise Martin in the fourth quarter, the Manteca High girls’ basketball team overcame a deficit to down the Davis High team from Modesto 45-34 in Manteca’s first game of the season. Martin scored 16 points for the game.

30 years ago: December 19, 1984 – Manteca High took advantage of another Golden Valley League opponent to boost its own VOL basketball record Tuesday night as the Buffaloes rolled past Los Banos High 62-50. Senior forward Anthony Salgado and junior center Joe Dias paced the Manteca offense, both scoring 13 points. Pete Nelson dropped in 22 for the winners. The Buffs of Coach Steve Winter are now 7-4 on the season.

East Union High finished play in the Linden Tournament Saturday night with a 57-48 win over Fairfield’s Vanden High. Jeff Hammond, who played just over two quarters, led the Lancers with 13 points. Mark Waterman and Lance Drager followed with 11 each.

20 years ago: December 17, 1994 – The East Union High girls’ basketball team easily put away Bear Creek High 43-24 in consolation action in the Delta Queen Classic at Stagg High in Stockton yesterday. Every Lady Lancer player got on the scoreboard, led by Tina Simoni and Jessie Hardcastle with eight points each. EU is now 2-7 in pre-season play.

The East Union High soccer team had goals from five different players in a 5-1 victory over Tracy High in the opening round of the Lincoln Invitational on Friday. EU goals were by junior Emily Anderson, Tonya Silva, Meghan Harris, Lyndi Saxton and Misty Paz.

Manteca High took a 4-0 soccer victory on Saturday at the Lincoln Invitational in Stockton. Lady Buff Maria Trevino had a “hat trick” with three goals and Jamie Plaisted also scored for MHS.

A couple of key layups by Duane Aul and David Asuncion, plus good all-around defense, carried East Union High to a 55-47 triumph over St. Elizabeth’s High of Oakland in the seventh-place game of the Armijo Tournament on Saturday. EU, which is 4-7 in the pre-season, was paced by Asuncion’s 21-point performance. Aul, a 6-3 senior, found the rim for an even dozen points.

Manteca High broke out of its offensive doldrums with a strong third quarter and pulled away for a 39-33 girls’ basketball triumph over Edison High for third place in the Delta Queens Classic at Stockton’s Stagg High Saturday afternoon. The Lady Buffs, who improved to 6-3 in the pre-season, were led by Anna Jackson’s 13 points.

Manteca High junior Bryan Lucas scored 12 of his game-high 28 points in the second quarter Monday as the Buffaloes pulled away to beat  Grace Davis High 60-49 in the opening round of the Tracy Winter Holiday Tournament. The 49 points allowed by the Buffs represent one of the best defensive efforts for Coach Mike Henry’s team.

10 years ago: December 23, 2004 – The Sierra High girls’ basketball team made some highlight-worthy buckets early in the game against visiting Lincoln High but the Lady Trojans surged ahead in the second half to tally the 59-48 non-league victory Wednesday night. Marylynn Bracamontes led the Timberwolves with a 12-point scoring effort.

Unlikely heroes Aimee Garrett and Ashley Bonifacio came through in a big way for the Manteca High girls on Wednesday. The two led the Lady Buffs to a 32-23 basketball win over host Linden High, each contributing with a seven-point performance.

The Sierra High basketball team scored at will, mostly in and around the paint, in its 68-55 non-league victory over visiting Argonaut High Tuesday. Coach Scott Thomason’s T’wolves (12-2) were paced by Michael Elder’s 16 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Davey Dutra also netted 16 and Malichi Tasby sank 12 more for SHS.

East Union High gave in to a late Edison High push as the host Vikings finished with a 53-48 basketball win on Tuesday. The Lancers had 18 turnovers in the game. Landon Marty and Steffen Spinks ended with 11 points each and Orlando Harris added 10 more to the EU effort.

Ripon Christian High worked hard and it paid off as the Knights downed Manteca High 69-56 in basketball action last night. Donald Jeffrey scored 14 points, Antonio Espinoza finished with 13 and Rueben Cedano netted 10 for the Buffaloes.