The Ceres High School varsity girls basketball team's playoff hopes took a major hit last week.
The Bulldogs finished a combined 13-for-33 from the charity stripe versus Sonora, Sierra and East Union.
"The bottom line is if we make our free throws, we win all three of those games regardless of the mistakes that we made," head coach Shawna Nunes said. "They need to make an adjustment to take care of it. That's part of learning."
Ceres High converted just 6 of 16 foul shots in Saturday's 44-41 loss at Sonora.
Jode Johnson led the Bulldogs in scoring with 21 points.
Jamie Beck and Stephanie Yankovich added 12 and seven points, respectively.
Sonora outscored Ceres High 23-17 in the second half, including 10-4 in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs shot 38 percent (5 of 13) from the foul line on their way to a 40-34 loss to Sierra on Thursday in Manteca.
Beck had a team-high 16 points.
Johnson scored eight points
Yankovich added four points.
Ceres High led by four points at the end of the third quarter.
Sierra completed the comeback with a 15-5 run in the fourth period.
The Bulldogs almost upset first-place East Union.
Shalane Jackson scored inside with 2.9 seconds to play to lift the Lancers to a 45-44 victory over the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Johnson and Beck tallied 15 points apiece.
Yankovich collected six points.
Ceres High managed four trips to the free-throw line and converted just two.
The Bulldogs are trying to earn their second playoff berth in three years.
Ceres High ranked 24th in the latest Sac-Joaquin Section Division III power ratings.
The top 16 teams qualify for the postseason.
"Mathematically, it's still possible," Nunes said. "We have to win the rest of our games and get some help to have a chance. Miracles are possible."
The Bulldogs finished a combined 13-for-33 from the charity stripe versus Sonora, Sierra and East Union.
"The bottom line is if we make our free throws, we win all three of those games regardless of the mistakes that we made," head coach Shawna Nunes said. "They need to make an adjustment to take care of it. That's part of learning."
Ceres High converted just 6 of 16 foul shots in Saturday's 44-41 loss at Sonora.
Jode Johnson led the Bulldogs in scoring with 21 points.
Jamie Beck and Stephanie Yankovich added 12 and seven points, respectively.
Sonora outscored Ceres High 23-17 in the second half, including 10-4 in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs shot 38 percent (5 of 13) from the foul line on their way to a 40-34 loss to Sierra on Thursday in Manteca.
Beck had a team-high 16 points.
Johnson scored eight points
Yankovich added four points.
Ceres High led by four points at the end of the third quarter.
Sierra completed the comeback with a 15-5 run in the fourth period.
The Bulldogs almost upset first-place East Union.
Shalane Jackson scored inside with 2.9 seconds to play to lift the Lancers to a 45-44 victory over the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Johnson and Beck tallied 15 points apiece.
Yankovich collected six points.
Ceres High managed four trips to the free-throw line and converted just two.
The Bulldogs are trying to earn their second playoff berth in three years.
Ceres High ranked 24th in the latest Sac-Joaquin Section Division III power ratings.
The top 16 teams qualify for the postseason.
"Mathematically, it's still possible," Nunes said. "We have to win the rest of our games and get some help to have a chance. Miracles are possible."
