Ceres High’s girls basketball team is inching closer to securing its third straight Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth.
Much-improved Central Valley continues to take steps in the right direction by closing the competitive gap.
The Hawks dropped to 4-20 overall and 1-11 in the Western Athletic Conference standings this past week after suffering three losses.
“We had leads in all three games in the fourth quarter,” Central Valley head coach Derrick Goblirsch said. “We just have to find ways to finish.”
Central Valley had its Senior Night spoiled by Johansen.
The Vikings pulled away for a 38-28 win over the last-place Hawks on Thursday in Ceres.
Johansen outscored Central Valley 16-4 in the final period.
“We were up by two points going into the fourth quarter,” Goblirsch. “Johansen banked in a 3. The momentum changed at that point. They pulled away at the end.”
Hawk upperclassmen Bella Delatorre, Emily Mariani, Airieana Martinez and Alayah Villa were honored before competing at home for the final time.
“They all have important roles on the team,” Goblirsch said. “It will be hard to fill their shoes.”
Central Valley struggled in the second half en route to losing 34-25 to Livingston on Feb. 3 in Ceres.
Tied at 16-all, the Hawks were outscored 18-9 after intermission.
Mariani and Emily Carranza led the Hawks in scoring with five points apiece.
Central Valley lost 46-38 at Beyer on Feb. 2.
Mariani scored a team-high 14 points against the Patriots.
Ceres High snapped a two-game losing streak and remained in the hunt for a playoff berth last week.
“We haven’t clinched a spot yet,” head coach Megan McGill said. “I believe if we win our next two games, we might get in.”
The Bulldogs improved to 14-11 overall and took over sole possession of third place in the WAC with a 7-5 mark after coasting to a 62-48 victory versus visiting Grace Davis on Thursday.
Ceres High lost 53-48 at Pacheco on Feb. 3.
BOYS HOOPS
Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s boys basketball programs both won one of two games against WAC competition last week.
Ceres High ended a five-game losing streak with a 53-51 home win over Pacheco on Senior Night on Feb. 4.
“We executed in crunch time,” head coach Darae Taylor stated.
Bulldog upperclassmen Abijah Bratton, Raymond Cortez Jr., Tavian Ellis and Victor Ramos were recognized before tipoff.
“I’m super appreciative of those guys,” Taylor stated. “They’ve allowed me to coach and mentor them.”
Cortez Jr. led the sixth-place Bulldogs (9-17, 3-9) with 18 points, three rebounds and three steals.
Ellis added eight points, seven rebounds and one block.
Bratton collected six rebounds and one steal.
Ramos chipped in with one rebound and one assist.
Ceres High junior Tayden Galton added 14 points, three assists and one rebound.
Central Valley earned another hard-fought victory versus Livingston.
The Hawks battled back for a 67-65 win against the host Wolves on Feb. 14.
Central Valley prevailed by just two points (57-55) while battling Livingston on Jan. 14 in Ceres.
The fourth-place Hawks (11-15, 6-6) had three players score in double figures against the Wolves during the rematch, including Parteek Sohal (18), Silas Rodriguez (16) and Michael Martinez (14).
