Ceres High’s varsity girls basketball team imposed its will during the fourth quarter of last week’s Western Athletic Conference game versus host Grace Davis.
The Bulldogs outscored the Spartans 16-6 in the final period en route to pulling away for a 57-43 victory Thursday evening in Modesto.
“We worked together as a team,” Ceres High guard Catryna Marquez said. “We put each other in positions to succeed. That allowed us to compete at a high level.”
Marquez and Lysaida Munoz both scored a team-high 12 points for the Bulldogs, who moved to 10-10 overall and into a three-way tie for third place in the WAC standings (3-3) with Beyer and Mountain House.
Thanya Gonzalez added nine points versus the last-place Spartans (1-10, 0-6).
Celeste Leon had eight points.
Mya Robinson and Sandra Espinoza both tallied six points.
Mia Rodriguez contributed four points.
Ceres High outscored Grace Davis 31-19 in the first half.
The Spartans trailed by just four points, 41-37, heading into the fourth quarter.
“It was an up and down game, just like the whole season has been,” Ceres High coach Mike Estrada Jr. said.
“We had a lot of positive energy today, even from the bench. We needed this win to get us back in the running for league.”Coach Mike Estrada Jr.
“We had a lot of positive energy today, even from the bench,” Marquez stated. “We needed this win to get us back in the running for league.”
The Bulldogs accounted for 16 of the game’s final 22 points to secure the victory.
“We had really good help-side defense,” Estrada said. “That led to a lot of steals in the passing lanes for us. We’re a lot better when we’re playing our game.”
Added Marquez: “It’s easier to score when you work together instead of individually.”
Two days earlier, Ceres High challenged first-place Los Banos early in the game before suffering a 47-30 home loss.
The Bulldogs had no players score in double figures against the Tigers (11-8, 6-0).
Robinson paced Ceres High with nine points.
Leon had six points.
Rodriguez had five points.
Munoz had four points.
Marquez, Thanya Gonzalez and Melannie Gonzalez finished with two points apiece.
The Bulldogs led 12-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Los Banos outscored Ceres High 38-18 the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs mustered just four points in the second quarter, eight in the third and six in the fourth.

