Ceres High School's varsity girls basketball team has experienced its share of gut-wrenching losses this year.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs edged out visiting Weston Ranch 56-55 in a Valley Oak League game that went down to the wire. Ceres High dropped its previous three games by a combined 10 points.
"It feels really good to win," said Jamie Beck, the Bulldogs' 6-foot-2 junior center. "It was pretty intense."
Beck tallied 13 of her team-high 22 points in the second half.
Jode Johnson scored 15 of her 21 points after intermission.
Stephanie Yankovich had 11 points.
Bryce Ford added two points.
Timnesha Wilson paced the Cougars with 22 points.
Courtney Duran and Jazmin Strane collected 12 and 11 points, respectively.
"We did bad against their press at first," Beck said. "Then we got it together and broke it at the end."
Ceres High trailed 23-22 at intermission.
Johnson and Beck combined for 28 points in the second half.
The Bulldogs won despite missing six of eight foul shots in the final minute.
"We try to keep ourselves calm but we're so nervous it hurts us," Jamie said.
Yankovich converted a pair of technical free throws to put Ceres High ahead 54-50 with 1:08 to play.
Less than 25 seconds later, Johnson stepped to the charity stripe and didn't disappoint.
Weston Ranch rallied with a 5-0 run.
Duran hit a 3-pointer from the right wing.
Emoni Wilson's offensive rebound putback brought the Cougars within a point with less than six seconds left in regulation.
Stephanie caught a length-of-the-court inbounds pass from Jamie and ran the clock out.
"It feels really good to beat Weston Ranch," Beck said.
The Bulldogs lost 49-34 to the Cougars earlier this season.
Ceres High (6-7) will play at Oakdale on Thursday. The contest will begin at 7:15 p.m.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs edged out visiting Weston Ranch 56-55 in a Valley Oak League game that went down to the wire. Ceres High dropped its previous three games by a combined 10 points.
"It feels really good to win," said Jamie Beck, the Bulldogs' 6-foot-2 junior center. "It was pretty intense."
Beck tallied 13 of her team-high 22 points in the second half.
Jode Johnson scored 15 of her 21 points after intermission.
Stephanie Yankovich had 11 points.
Bryce Ford added two points.
Timnesha Wilson paced the Cougars with 22 points.
Courtney Duran and Jazmin Strane collected 12 and 11 points, respectively.
"We did bad against their press at first," Beck said. "Then we got it together and broke it at the end."
Ceres High trailed 23-22 at intermission.
Johnson and Beck combined for 28 points in the second half.
The Bulldogs won despite missing six of eight foul shots in the final minute.
"We try to keep ourselves calm but we're so nervous it hurts us," Jamie said.
Yankovich converted a pair of technical free throws to put Ceres High ahead 54-50 with 1:08 to play.
Less than 25 seconds later, Johnson stepped to the charity stripe and didn't disappoint.
Weston Ranch rallied with a 5-0 run.
Duran hit a 3-pointer from the right wing.
Emoni Wilson's offensive rebound putback brought the Cougars within a point with less than six seconds left in regulation.
Stephanie caught a length-of-the-court inbounds pass from Jamie and ran the clock out.
"It feels really good to beat Weston Ranch," Beck said.
The Bulldogs lost 49-34 to the Cougars earlier this season.
Ceres High (6-7) will play at Oakdale on Thursday. The contest will begin at 7:15 p.m.
