Central Valley High School’s boys basketball team resumed its season this past week following a 20-day gap between games due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Hawks fell to 8-10 overall and 0-2 in the Central California Conference standings after dropping a pair of games.

“The effort was good,” head coach Mike Rodriguez said. “We played with a lot of energy. Guys were diving on the floor for loose balls. We were just out of sync, offensively. That’s from being off for too long. It’s hard to simulate a game-like atmosphere at practice.”

Central Valley lost 58-22 to El Capitan in CCC play on Wednesday in Ceres.

The Hawks were limited to just 13 points in the opening half.

“We were really rusty,” Rodriguez said. “Shots weren’t falling. We needed to play a little more physical.”

Yoshi Kumar led Central Valley in scoring with eight points.

Jeremy Alvarez tallied five points.

Patterson spoiled Central Valley’s Winter Homecoming with a 75-65 victory on Friday.

“We just had too many turnovers,” Rodriguez said.

The Hawks trailed by as much as 18 points before rallying late in the game.

“We cut the deficit to six with five minutes left in the fourth quarter,” Rodriguez said. “We got called for an intentional foul. It ended up being a five-point swing.”

Jordan Powers poured in a team-high 27 points in defeat.

Gage Mastropierro added 19 points.

Jomari Ocasiones had eight points.

Central Valley will play host to Merced this Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Four of the Hawks’ league games had to be rescheduled for COVID protocols.

“Everybody is going through the same thing,” Rodriguez said.

CHS remains in first

Ceres High’s boys basketball team topped Mountain House and Grace Davis in Western Athletic Conference play this past week.

The Bulldogs managed to win both games despite competing shorthanded. Three players, including one starter, missed the game due to COVID protocols.

“It was good to see other players step up,” head coach T.J. Walker Jr. said.

Ceres High improved to 11-7 overall and remained in a three-way tie for first place in the WAC standings after posting a 61-52 victory over Mountain House on Friday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“Since they’ve come into the WAC, we haven’t beaten them,” Walker said. “It was nice to get that first win. We played well against a solid team.”

Lebron Stallworth led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Fernando Franco buried four treys on his way to tallying 18 points.

He collected six rebounds.

“Fernando hit some big shots in the fourth quarter,” Walker said.

Verlis Smith had 15 points and nine rebounds.

Ceres High overcame a slow start on its way to pulling away for a 68-49 win against Grace Davis on Wednesday in Modesto.

The Bulldogs took control after Walker called two early timeouts.

“It took us a while to get going,” he said. “We came in lackadaisical. I had to light some fire under their butts.”

Smith tallied 24 points and six rebounds versus the Spartans.

Adrian Ontiveros added 23 points and six rebounds.

Stallworth contributed 16 points and four rebounds.

Ceres High will play four times this week.

The Bulldogs will travel to Modesto today to face first-place Beyer.

Ceres High will host Pacheco on Friday and compete against the Panthers on the road this Saturday.

“We’re right where we want to be,” Walker said. “If we take care of business in league, playoffs will be there. We know it’s not going to be easy. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Ceres High spent this past year in the WAC South Division for coronavirus-safety reasons. The Bulldogs posted a 5-10 overall record and placed second in conference play (5-3).

Playoffs were postponed for all sports during the 2020-21 school year because of a late start to the season due to COVID-19.

Ceres High made its last postseason appearance in 2016-17.

“We’re just happy to be playing,” said Walker, fifth-year leader of the Bulldogs.

Hawks lose twice

Central Valley’s girls basketball team dropped to 4-13 on the season and 0-4 in Central California Conference play this past week.

The Hawks lost 51-30 to the host Patterson Tigers on Thursday.

Alyssa Rojo and Kareena Kang led Central Valley in scoring with 11 points apiece.

Rojo and Kang both made three 3-pointers.

Tatyanna Valencia collected five points.

Makayla Dennison contributed two points.

Jasman Kaur had one point.

Central Valley fell 34-27 at Merced on Jan. 17.

Rojo buried three treys on her way to totaling a team-high 15 points.

Valencia, Kang and Kaur chipped in with six, four and two points, respectively.