Ceres High’s varsity girls basketball team compiled a 3-2 record while playing five games in six days during the opening week of the 2019-20 campaign.

“It’s still early in the season,” Bulldogs’ head coach Mike Estrada Jr. said. “There’s always room for improvement.”

Ceres High claimed the consolation title at the Dec. 5-7 Golden Valley Tournament.

The Bulldogs won two of three games.

Ceres High’s Lysaida Munoz and Thanya Gonzalez missed the first and third games, respectively, due to illness.

“It’s not a bad performance,” Estrada said. “We played shorthanded.”

Munoz was named to the all-tournament team.

“She had a really good motor,” Estrada said. “She never stops no matter if we’re winning or losing. She gives 100 percent every time she’s on the court.”

Ceres High improved to 3-2 overall after edging Hilmar 34-33 for fifth place at the Golden Valley Tournament on Saturday.

Munoz led the Bulldogs with 15 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.

Celeste Leon had eight points and two rebounds.

Catryna Marquez had seven points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Ceres High routed Riverbank 60-44 in the consolation bracket on Friday.

Munoz tallied 16 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Gonzalez had 11 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.

Robinson had 11 points, three rebounds, three steals and one assist.

Mia Rodriguez had eight points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Leon had eight points, four rebounds and three steals.

Ceres High dropped its tournament opener, 61-23, to Ripon on Thursday.

Leon had six points, five rebounds and three steals.

Mya Robinson had six points, three rebounds and two steals.

Ceres High lost 50-28 at Golden Valley on Dec. 3.

Munoz had seven points, six rebounds and two steals.

Rodriguez had six points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Marquez had five points, five steals, three rebounds and one assist.

The Bulldogs never recovered after falling behind 16-0 in the first quarter.

Ceres High defeated host Riverbank 59-35 on Dec. 2.

Munoz paced the Bulldogs with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists.

Marquez had 11 points, six steals, four assists and three rebounds.

Rodriguez had 11 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Thanya Gonzalez had seven points, six rebounds and five steals.

BOYS WRESTLING

Ceres High’s varsity boys wrestling team opened the 2019-20 Western Athletic Conference dual-meet season with a 48-24 win over visiting Lathrop on Dec. 3 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“I’m proud of everyone who wrestled,” CHS grappler Angel Figueora said. “But there are a lot of areas we can work on.”

A total of eight individual matches were staged with each team winning four times.

Figueroa prevailed by first-round pin over Carlos Ramirez at 182 pounds.

Edison Jimenez prevailed by first-round pin over Luis Hernandez at 160 pounds.

Diego Armas prevailed by first-round pin over Lathrop’s Jerahmeal Tillman at 138 pounds.

Brian Ayala prevailed by third-round pin over Tavis Rollins at 145 pounds.

The Bulldogs were awarded 24 points on six forfeits during the conference dual.

Elias Saldana (285s), Josh Ofisa (220s), Miguel Espinoza (120s) and Sonald Lal (114s) all collected forfeit victories.

Ahead 24-18, Ceres High pulled away by winning four of the dual’s final six matches.

“It’s exciting,” Figueroa said. “It’s a good way to open our season.”

Spartans 36, Dawgs 30

Ceres High’s varsity girls wrestling program dropped its WAC opener, 36-30, to Lathrop last week.

“They had a really strong team,” Bulldog junior grappler Jazzmin Suarez said.

Ceres High won five of the dual’s 11 matches.

Elizabeth Mercado (101 pounds), Angelique Huerta (126s), Karen Vang (160s), Rosely Ayala (189s) and Mercedez Wood (235s) all prevailed by forfeit.

Suarez lost by first-round pin to Sarah Atkins at 143 pounds.

“I didn’t know she was a state qualifier until after,” Suarez said. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Andrea Contreras lost by third-round pin to Tammy Phan at 116 pounds.

Gabriela Soto lost by second-round pin to Jamida Garcia at 131 pounds.

Katie Garcia lost by first-round pin to Alexis Murray at 137 pounds.

Mariana Ramirez lost by first-round pin to Kristina Rose at 150 pounds.

Down 24-12, Lathrop reeled off four straight pins to sway the momentum.

“We need to work harder at practice and apply what we learn to our matches,” Suarez said.