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Ceres High outlasts CV in basketball
Ceres Bulldogs finish in third place
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Ceres Highs Elijah Hughes (44)had a game-high 14 points while battling Mankern Chahal and crosstown-rival Central Valley on Feb. 10. The Bulldogs won WAC contest, 38-30. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Ceres High's frosh-soph boys basketball team closed out the 2016-17 campaign with a 38-30 win over crosstown-rival Central Valley on Feb. 10 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

"It was a sloppy game," Bulldogs head coach Lance Hunter said. "Luckily for us, we had a good third quarter that gave us a decent lead."

Ceres High compiled a 14-8 overall record and finished third in the Western Athletic Conference standings (6-4).

The Hawks (3-7) placed fifth.

Patterson (9-1) and Livingston (8-2) took first and second, respectively.

Ceres High lost 64-60 to Patterson in overtime and 57-55 to Livingston.

"We were close to winning a league championship," Hunter said.

Bulldog Elijah Hughes had a game-high 14 points versus the Hawks.

Christian Murry tallied 13 points.

Brock Moore and Ethan Willform both contributed three points.

Dominic Cervantez and Oscar Lopez finished with two points apiece.

Brock DeWitt added one point.

Edgardo Andrade, Mankern Chahal and Josiah Ramos all had a team-high eight points for Central Valley.

Murraj Singh tallied six points.

Ceres High led 16-14 at intermission. Hughes accounted for eight of the Bulldogs' first-half points.

Murry collected seven points and Hughes added six points as Ceres High outscored Central Valley 16-3 in the third quarter.

The Hawks limited the Bulldogs to just six points in the fourth quarter. Central Valley totaled 13 points. Chahal netted four points. Andrade, Ramos and Singh all made one 3-pointer.

"The game got interesting towards the end when Central Valley started pressing and trapping," Hunter said. "They played well down the stretch. Definitely have to give them kudos for not giving up."

The Bulldogs beat the Hawks twice this season.

Ceres High dominated the first meeting, 60-35, at Central Valley.
"It's always great to get a win against Central Valley," Hunter said.

The Bulldogs posted a near-perfect 9-1 record at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium this season.

Patterson dealt Ceres High its lone loss.

"The guys are comfortable in our gym," Hunter said. "We practice there."

Ceres High opened the season with an 0-3 showing at the Stagg Tournament.

The Bulldogs rebounded soon after, topping Enochs and placing third at the Turlock tourney. Ceres High avenged a loss to West of Tracy.

"I'm pretty proud they were able to have a successful season," Hunter said. "We gained a lot of team chemistry and became more mentally strong. I saw a real increase in effort."