Central Valley’s boys basketball team climbed to fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings last week after securing back-to-back victories.
Ceres High dropped a pair of league games.
“We’ve played well the past three games,” Hawks’ leader Mike Rodriguez said. “Our defense and rebounding has been really good. It’s helped us get some extra possessions and score some easy baskets.”
Three weeks removed from squandering a double-digit lead in losing 65-57 at Grace Davis, Central Valley exacted revenged with a 67-41 home victory on Jan. 28.
The Hawks forced 21 turnovers.
Central Valley also held advantages of 50-38 in rebounding and 42-18 in points in the paint.
“I turned the guys loose and let them press all game,” Rodriguez said while talking about his team’s defensive game plan. “We got a lot of layups.”
Parteek Sohal poured in a team-high 17 points against the seventh-place Spartans (4-17, 1-7).
Xavier Manor tallied 13 points.
Jace Mclennon contributed nine points.
David Gutierrez and Michael Martinez both scored six points.
Steve Duran and Caden Mendonca each had three points.
The Hawks outscored the Spartans 30-7 in the first quarter en route to building a 52-15 lead in the opening half.
“I thought we played really hard,” coach Rodriguez said. “The scoring was balanced. Twelve of our 14 guys scored.”
Central Valley spoiled Pacheco’s Homecoming with a 72-50 win on Friday in Los Banos.
The Hawks also extended their winning streak to three games.
“Everything was clicking,” coach Rodriguez said.
Fourth-place Central Valley improved to 9-13 overall and 4-4 in the WAC standings.
Eighth-place Pacheco dropped to 5-12 and 0-7.
Ceres High suffered its fourth straight loss.
The third-place Johansen Vikings defeated the sixth-place Bulldogs 67-44 on Friday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Ceres High dropped to 8-15 overall and 2-7 in the WAC standings
Johansen improved to 15-8 and 6-3.
Ceres High lost 60-46 at fifth-place Livingston (4-5, 9-14) on Wednesday.
GIRLS HOOPS
Ceres High’s girls basketball team collected a pair of wins in Western Athletic Conference play.
Central Valley lost twice.
Third-place Ceres High improved to 13-9 overall and 6-3 in the WAC standings after earning a hard-fought 38-35 win against fourth-place Johansen on Thursday in Modesto.
The Vikings dropped to 11-2 and 4-5.
Ceres High defeated Johansen 51-33 on Jan. 6 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Ceres High rolled to a 43-20 victory over visiting Livingston on Jan. 27.
The Bulldogs bested the Wolves 51-32 on the road Jan. 5.
Sovannary Carter totaled 12 points, five steals, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks during Ceres High’s rematch against seventh-place Livingston (4-15, 1-7).
Makaela Brown had eight points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Mariah Renteria had eight points, three steals and two assists.
Persia Rochell had six points and eight rebounds.
Presley Vierra had six points and four rebounds.
Haley Clark had three points, four rebounds, three steals and one assist.
The Bulldogs outscored the Wolves 29-6 in the opening half.
Last-place Central Valley dropped to 4-17 overall and 1-8 in the WAC following Thursday’s 52-24 home setback versus Pacheco.
The second-place Panthers improved to 14-9 and 7-2.
Ari Martinez paced the Hawks with nine points, two steals, one assist and one block.
Bella Delatorre had six points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Alayah Villa had five points, five rebounds and one steal.
Emily Mariani had two points, four rebounds and one steal.
Central Valley lost 45-35 at Pacheco on Jan. 6.
Grace Davis defeated Central Valley 55-34 on Jan. 27.
The Hawks lost 53-47 to the fifth-place Spartans (7-15, 4-5) on Jan. 5 in Ceres.
Martinez totaled a team-high 13 points, three steals and two rebounds during Central Valley’s rematch versus Grace Davis.
Mariani had eight points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Serath Birring had four points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Delatorre had four points, four rebounds and one block.
