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Bulldogs fade
• CHS girls drop to 6-15 overall, 2-8 in the Western Athletic Conference
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Catryna Marquez and Ceres High’s varsity girls basketball team lost 51-41 to Johansen and 76-56 to Beyer in Western Athletic Conference play last week. - photo by Dale Butler

Ceres High’s varsity girls basketball team squandered leads while losing to Johansen and Beyer last week.

“We’ve lost a lot of close games because of one quarter,” coach Mike Estrada Jr. said. “It’s something we got to work through. We just have to learn how to finish. I need to prepare my team better for those situations.”

The Bulldogs dropped to 6-15 overall and 2-8 in the Western Athletic Conference following Thursday’s 51-41 home loss to Johansen.

The Vikings improved to 13-6 and 6-4.

Fifth-place Ceres High posted an 0-2 record versus third-place Johansen this season.

“We have a young team. We only have three seniors. We’re still learning.”
Coach Mike Estrada Jr.

“We have a young team,” Estrada said. “We only have three seniors. We’re still learning.”

Bulldog freshman Mia Rodriguez managed to tally 10 points, four steals and one rebound against the Vikings despite being slowed by an injury during the second half.

She rolled her left ankle.

“It’s nice to be back on the court,” said Rodriguez, who missed one game the previous week while recovering from a concussion.

“She’s real tough and competitive,” Estrada said. “It shows in her play. Hopefully, that wears off on the other girls.”

Ceres High teammate Camryn Silva had eight points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds.

Freshman Celeste Leon had eight points, seven rebounds, three steals and one assist.

Sophomore Catryna Marquez had six points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Sophomore Lysaida Munoz had five points, eight rebounds and one steal.

Courtney Ford had four points, two rebounds and one steal.

The Bulldog shot 53 percent (10 of 19) from the foul line for the game.

Ceres High totaled just eight assists against Johansen.

“We should have won that game,” Rodriguez said.

The Bulldogs led 35-26 at the end of the third quarter.

Johansen outscored Ceres High 25-6 in the final period.

“We just didn’t play our style of basketball,” Estrada said. “We had too many turnovers and missed layups. The mindset of our team changed. They were a little fatigued.”

“We wouldn’t have been as tired if we worked as a team,” Rodriguez added.

Beyer rallied for a 76-56 victory over host Ceres High on Jan. 22 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“It was a really good game,” Estrada said. “We were up at halftime. We should have beat them.”

Silva collected 18 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Marquez added 16 points, five steals, two assists and one rebound.

Rodriguez had 13 points, two assists, one rebound and one steal.

Ford had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Bulldogs shot just 43 percent (13 of 30) from the charity stripe.

Ceres High held a slim 33-29 lead at intermission.

The Patriots seized control by outscoring the Bulldogs 29-10 in the third quarter.

Ceres High will play host to Grace Davis this Thursday at 7:15 p.m.