Ceres High School's varsity girls basketball team boosted its playoff hopes last week despite being slowed by the flu.

The Bulldogs won two of three games and remained in the No. 14 spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III power ratings.

The top 16 teams advance to the postseason later this month.

"They gave a great effort," head coach Vanessa Morris said. "I'm not surprised. I have a good group of kids that do whatever I ask them to do."

Ceres High dropped to 6-4 in the Western Athletic Conference after losing 61-39 to first-place Patterson on Saturday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

Freshman Nicole Bates scored a team-high 21 points for the Bulldogs, who shot just 45 percent (15 of 33) from the free-throw line.

Bryce Ford, Ryleigh Honberger and Diana Salgado added 10, five and three points, respectively.

Patterson outscored Ceres High 34-22 in the first half.

"We struggled," Morris said. "That's one of the best teams we've played all year."

Bates tallied 16 points as Ceres High rolled to a 40-27 win over Pacheco on Thursday in Los Banos.

Ford, Salgado and Edith Peralta contributed 13, six and two points, respectively.

Honberger had one point.

"We executed right," Morris said.

Ceres High secured a hard-fought 45-39 victory against host Livingston on Jan. 29.

The Wolves' second-half rally fell short.

The Bulldogs led 24-14 at halftime.

"We didn't play great," Morris said. "We were sluggish. But I'm not upset."

Ford tallied a game-high 20 points, Bates had 17 and Honberger added eight.

Ceres High will wrap up the WAC season this week.

The Bulldogs will play host to the crosstown Hawks this Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Ceres High edged Central Valley 51-46 on Jan. 22.

The defending WAC champion Hawks won the previous five meetings.