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Cabusas nets double-double
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Blood trickled down Marissa Cabusas' chin after she got elbowed in the mouth while playing defense late in the fourth quarter. She returned to the lineup following a brief break and helped the Ceres High JV girls basketball team hold on for a 40-38 victory over Bear Creek in non-conference action on Thursday in Stockton.

Cabusas had 11 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-1 overall.

“She gives you everything she has the entire time she's in,” Ceres coach Kassi Baker said.

The Bulldogs managed to win despite a lack of depth. They lost three of their 10 players due to grades.

“Playing with seven players is hard,” Baker said.

Two of Ceres High's starters were relegated to the bench in the second quarter because of foul trouble, including Aimee Gunzenhauser and Kaylee Brown.

Gunzenhauser finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Brown scored eight points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Abbie Martin, Lisa Seabourn and Sabrina Mendoza also contributed. Martin added five points. Seabourn and Mendoza had two points apiece.

The Bulldogs battled back from an 11-point deficit in the second half with an 11-0 run.

“They were disciplined,” Baker said. “They didn't panic.”

Down 33-22, Ceres High tallied the final eight points of the third quarter to get within three, 33-30, heading into the final quarter. Brown and Mendoza made close-range shots. Cabusas knocked down one of two free throws. Gunzenhauser buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Brown made back-to-back baskets to give the Bulldogs a 34-33 lead with 5:44 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Bruins took the lead back on Annalyn Jimenez's layup at the 3:07 mark.

The Bulldogs scored the next four points to take a 38-35 lead with 1:59 remaining. Cabusas grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a layup. Gunzenhauser scored inside off a pass from Cabusas.

Bear Creek's Bri Umbay evened the score at 38-all when she buried a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:36 remaining.

Gunzenhauser broke the tie when she made two free throws with 46.9 seconds left in regulation.

The Bruins had a chance to win the game. Jazmin Gutierrez missed a 3-pointer from the left baseline as time expired. The ball hit the top of the backboard.

Frosh Dawgs top Bruins

The Ceres High freshman girls basketball team showed a tremendous amount of improvement during its 33-16 win over Bear Creek on Thursday in Stockton.

“We limited the turnovers,” Bulldogs coach Drew Brown said. “We shot the ball better. We played good defense. And we outrebounded them.”

Melissa Hernandez led Ceres High (2-3) with nine points and three rebounds. She made three of four free throws. Tiffany Burnett had six points and 14 rebounds. Queen Israel added six points and six rebounds. - By DALE BUTLER /Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier