Ceres High School's junior-varsity girls basketball squad overcame a slow start and pulled away for a 40-28 win over visiting Livingston during Friday's Western Athletic Conference opener at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
"We have a good team," Bulldogs head coach Kristen McClure said. "We're going to do very well this season."
Ceres High improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the WAC standings.
"I don't care if we win or lose right now," McClure said. "I just want them to play as hard as they can."
Alexis Contreras scored all of her team-high 13 points in the middle periods for the Bulldogs. She contributed off the bench.
"We have a lot of good players," McClure said. "She's one of them. She's one of our leaders."
Kaylee Holloway tallied six of her 10 points in the third period.
"She's getting better every day," McClure said.
Natalia Cortez, Julia Pata, Leena Bassi and Raimee Mendoza contributed six, five, four and two points, respectively.
Ceres High outscored Livingston 28-8 in the middle periods.
Contreras collected nine points in the second quarter and four in the third stanza.
"We played awesome defense," McClure said. "We had a lot of steals. That's how we got such a big lead in the second quarter. We play together. If we keep doing that, we'll be one of the top teams in the WAC."
Bulldogs 32, Wolves 23
Ceres High School's freshman girls basketball team enjoyed a successful start to the 2015 Western Athletic Conference season.
The Bulldogs beat the Wolves of Livingston 32-23 on Friday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Ceres High improved to 7-3 on the year and 1-0 in the WAC standings.
"It's pretty exciting," Bulldogs head coach Aimee Gunzenhauser said. "I'm very proud of what they've accomplished so far. I can't wait to see what kind of team we'll be by the end of the season. We still got a lot of work to do still."
Ceres High had a host of contributors last week, including Harmen Bahia, Hannah Kimbro, Angelina Ursua, Shelby Veuve, Ariadna Garcia and Andrea Duran.
Bahia scored a team-high nine points.
Kimbro collected eight points.
Ursua and Veuve netted five points each.
Garcia and Duran had three and two points, respectively.
The Bulldogs led 13-9 at the break.
Ahead 24-19, Ceres High outscored Livingston 8-4 in the final period.
"We ran our press offense well today," Gunzenhauser said. "The girls know 15 plays and to be able to execute them at the freshman level is amazing. They've already exceeded my expectations. They're learning to play more as a team."
Aimee coaches the Bulldogs with help from older sister Megan.
Aimee and Megan graduated from Ceres High in 2009 and 2004, respectively.
"It's nice to be back where I played," Aimee said. "I want them to have an amazing experience like I did. I want this to be some of the best years of their life."
