Winless through its first eight games, Central Valley’s varsity girls basketball team suffered its ninth consecutive loss during the opening week of Central California Conference play.
The Bears of Merced defeated the visiting Hawks 54-9 on Friday.
“As long as we improve each game and just get better with each other, I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Central Valley head coach Jesse Padilla said.
Central Valley dropped to 0-9 overall and 0-1 in the CCC.
Merced improved to 11-3 and 1-0.
The Hawks fell behind 17-2 in the first quarter and trailed 30-6 at halftime.
Merced outscored Central Valley 24-3 after intermission.
The Bears limited the Hawks to a season-low nine points.
Central Valley totaled just 12 points in a 55-12 loss at East Union on Dec. 4.
The Hawks are averaging just 24.3 points per game this winter.
Central Valley has been outscored, 486-195.
Pitman tourney
Central Valley compiled an 0-3 record at the Pitman Tournament this past month in Turlock.
“Coming in short-handed, we just wanted to compete,” said Padilla, whose team’s roster consisted of just seven players. “The girls fought hard.”
Central Valley was beaten 73-27 by Sonora on Dec. 28.
Hughson defeated Central Valley 46-35 on Dec. 27.
Central Valley lost its tournament opener, 50-24, to Lodi on Dec. 26.
Spartans 55, Dawgs 41
The Ceres High varsity girls basketball team’s first-half struggles proved costly during last week’s league contest versus 2018-19 Western Athletic Conference champion Lathrop.
The Bulldogs mustered just 14 points in the opening 14 minutes on their way to losing 55-41 to the Spartans in WAC play Friday evening.
“I didn’t put my team in the right situations at the beginning of the game,” head coach Mike Estrada Jr. said. “We pressed on defense and it didn’t work. We got open looks on offense but weren’t knocking down shots.”
Ceres High dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-1 in the conference standings.
Lathrop improved to 4-9 and 1-0.
Celeste Leon led the Bulldogs with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Mia Rodriguez added 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Lysaida Munoz collected seven points, five rebounds and one steal.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Ceres High’s varsity boys basketball team totaled 18 turnovers during Friday evening’s 69-59 loss to visiting Lathrop in Western Athletic Conference play at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
“We didn’t take care of the ball,” head coach T.J. Walker Jr. said. “We’re young. The ability is there. We just have to play better.”
The Bulldogs dropped to 6-8 on the season and 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Spartans improved to 9-5 and 1-0.
A newcomer to varsity, sophomore Fernando Franco totaled 11 points, one rebound and one steal.
Franco, junior Ryan Ashby and Malakhi Shimon have all logged playing time at point guard this season.
Two-year starter Derrick O’Neal transferred to Beyer.
Shimon had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Ashby had three points and one steal.
Ceres High junior forward Samar Singh had 10 points, 11 rebounds and three assists against Lathrop.
Sophomore Verlis Smith added eight points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Junior Mike Leon had eight points and two rebounds.
Josh Pernetti had seven points, six rebounds and one assist.
Bears 69, Hawks 39
Ahead 13-8, Central Valley’s varsity boys basketball team had a chance to extend its lead in the second quarter during Friday’s Central California Conference opener against visiting Merced.
The Bears prevented that from happening by seizing the momentum with a 44-22 run in the middle periods and pulling away for a 69-39 victory over the Hawks.
“If we had some killer-instinct, we would have been up by a lot more,” Central Valley head coach Mike Rodriguez said.
Central Valley dropped to 4-12 on the year and 0-1 in the CCC standings
Merced improved to 8-9 and 1-0.
Angel Zamarripa paced the Hawks with 17 points.
Kadin Manor netted 14 points.
The final result was shocking considering the Hawks accounted for 11 of the game’s first 14 points.
Merced led 29-26 at intermission.
“The first half we played with more intensity,” Manor said. “Once they started making baskets, we gave up. We didn’t play to our potential. We just didn’t execute. It’s very disappointing.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Central Valley’s varsity girls soccer team dropped to 5-6-0 overall after losing to Pitman and Turlock in non-conference play this past month.
The Hawks mustered just one goal in defeat.
“It’s a new team,” Hawks’ head coach Miguel Larranaga said. “We have a lot of young players. I still got a lot of confidence in the girls.”
Central Valley suffered its third consecutive loss on Dec. 18, falling 3-1 to host Pitman at the Turlock Regional Sports Complex.
Malina Keomuangchanh prevented the shutout with a goal.
Central Valley lost 3-0 to Turlock on Dec. 17 in Ceres.
The Hawks are vying for their fifth straight league title, including second in the Central California Conference, this winter.
