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Lady Dawgs defense limits Johansen to 21 percent shooting
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The Ceres High varsity girls basketball team had another impressive outing against Modesto Metro Conference foe Johansen.

The Bulldogs dominated with defense during their 52-29 victory against the Vikings Saturday night at Ceres' Phil de la Porte Gymnasium. Johansen was limited to 21 percent shooting (10 of 47).

“We used another press they hadn't seen,” Bulldogs coach Shawna Nunes said. “It was really effective.”

Added Ceres post player Kristen McClure: “Defense won this game for us. Johansen didn't know how to handle that kind of pressure. They got scared and threw the ball away.”

McClure, Jessica Mazza, Jennifer Arnold and Heather Jones combined for 43 points for Ceres High, which improved to 15-3 overall, 6-1 in the MMC standings. McClure scored a team-high 15 points. Mazza, Arnold and Jones added 14, eight and six points apiece.

Cissy Denego had a team-high 12 points for the Vikings, who fell to 10-9 overall, 2-4 in the league standings. She made four 3-pointers.

“We're working really well as a team,” McClure said.“We just go out there and play as hard as we can. Everyone has a certain role. And they've stood up to it.”

Tied at 8-all, the Bulldogs outscored the Vikings 40-13 in the second and third quarters combined. Ceres High made 13 of 28 field goals, while Johansen made just 4 of 19.

The Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 30-15 advantage with a 20-4 run in the final 6 minutes, 5 seconds of the second quarter.

Arnold and Mazza had five points apiece. Arnold made a 3-pointer and both of her free throws. Mazza made a layup and three of her four free throws.

Cassie Rayford had four points. She scored inside and converted two foul shots.

McClure tallied three points, including a layup and one foul shot.

Brittany Lusk knocked down a 12-foot jumper.

Ceres High extended its lead to 48-21 in the third quarter. The Bulldogs outscored the Vikings 18-6.

McClure had eight points, including two close-range jumpers off passes from Mazza, a pair of free throws and a layup with 34.5 seconds remaining.

Mazza had six points. She knocked down a 14-footer, scored inside off a rebound and converted a layup.

Jones had four points. She buried both of her foul shots and hit a left-handed layup off a steal.

The Bulldogs topped the Vikings 59-33 in Ceres on Jan. 5.

Ceres High will play at Downey tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier