Ceres High School's varsity boys basketball team beat LeGrand 65-29 on Saturday to avoid finishing last at the Central Valley tournament.
"It was a must-win game for us," Bulldogs senior leader Jimbo Pernetti said. "We needed to get some momentum going into league."
Ceres High (7-7) placed seventh with a 1-2 record at the eight-team event.
"The disappointing part is we didn't play our best," Pernetti said. "We should have competed better. We didn't rebound well at all. We have to be smarter with the ball and not turn it over as much. We got a reality check before league. We got to work hard for every win."
Three Bulldog players scored in double figures against LeGrand, including Pernetti (12), Harman Chung (13) and Angel Garcia (10).
Terry Brogdon added nine points as Ceres High dominated the contest through three quarters and held a 53-19 lead.
Caden Johnson, Abel Reyes, Jimmy Bates and Michael Ghimenti chipped in with eight, six, four and three points, respectively.
Ceres High had its five-game winning streak snapped with a 60-49 opening-round loss to Brookside Christian on Thursday.
Chung collected a team-high 19 points.
Reyes, Johnson and Pernetti added 12, eight and four points, respectively.
Brogdon, Bates and Angel Garcia finished with two points apiece.
The Bulldogs held a slim 31-30 lead at halftime.
Brookside Christian outscored Ceres High 18-6 in the third quarter.
Ceres High never posed a threat in losing 86-51 to Cosumnes Oaks on Friday in consolation play.
Harman Chung had 13 points.
Jimbo Pernetti added 11 points.
Brogdon and Angel Garcia tallied eight points each.
Reyes and Ghimenti contributed six and three points, respectively.
Johnson and Junior Garcia both scored two points.
Cosumnes Oaks nearly doubled Ceres High's scoring output in the opening half (55-28).
"We knew going into the tournament we were going to have some tough games," Pernetti said. "We wanted to win. We didn't expect to lose. We didn't step up."
Ceres High will begin Western Athletic Conference play this week.
The Bulldogs will travel to Livingston today and host defending-champion Central Catholic on Friday. Both games will tip off at 7:30 p.m. "Our roles are pretty much set," Pernetti said. "Everybody knows what they got to do. I'd be disappointed if we weren't in the top three. I honestly think we can compete for the championship."
"It was a must-win game for us," Bulldogs senior leader Jimbo Pernetti said. "We needed to get some momentum going into league."
Ceres High (7-7) placed seventh with a 1-2 record at the eight-team event.
"The disappointing part is we didn't play our best," Pernetti said. "We should have competed better. We didn't rebound well at all. We have to be smarter with the ball and not turn it over as much. We got a reality check before league. We got to work hard for every win."
Three Bulldog players scored in double figures against LeGrand, including Pernetti (12), Harman Chung (13) and Angel Garcia (10).
Terry Brogdon added nine points as Ceres High dominated the contest through three quarters and held a 53-19 lead.
Caden Johnson, Abel Reyes, Jimmy Bates and Michael Ghimenti chipped in with eight, six, four and three points, respectively.
Ceres High had its five-game winning streak snapped with a 60-49 opening-round loss to Brookside Christian on Thursday.
Chung collected a team-high 19 points.
Reyes, Johnson and Pernetti added 12, eight and four points, respectively.
Brogdon, Bates and Angel Garcia finished with two points apiece.
The Bulldogs held a slim 31-30 lead at halftime.
Brookside Christian outscored Ceres High 18-6 in the third quarter.
Ceres High never posed a threat in losing 86-51 to Cosumnes Oaks on Friday in consolation play.
Harman Chung had 13 points.
Jimbo Pernetti added 11 points.
Brogdon and Angel Garcia tallied eight points each.
Reyes and Ghimenti contributed six and three points, respectively.
Johnson and Junior Garcia both scored two points.
Cosumnes Oaks nearly doubled Ceres High's scoring output in the opening half (55-28).
"We knew going into the tournament we were going to have some tough games," Pernetti said. "We wanted to win. We didn't expect to lose. We didn't step up."
Ceres High will begin Western Athletic Conference play this week.
The Bulldogs will travel to Livingston today and host defending-champion Central Catholic on Friday. Both games will tip off at 7:30 p.m. "Our roles are pretty much set," Pernetti said. "Everybody knows what they got to do. I'd be disappointed if we weren't in the top three. I honestly think we can compete for the championship."
