The Ceres High varsity girls basketball team and Franklin battled for three quarters in Stockton on Thursday night.
Then the Bulldogs took control, outscoring the Yellowjackets 21-13 in the final quarter en route to a 52-44 victory.
"Franklin was a good team," said Ceres coach Shawna Nunes. "They're a lot better than their record indicated. They're a physical team. They're well coached."
Ceres' starting lineup totaled 46 points. All four seniors, Krystle Brown, Heather Mazza, Meghan Franksen and Kelsey Sayad, scored in double figures for the Bulldogs, who concluded the preseason with a 9-3 record.
Brown scored all 12 of her points in the first half.
Mazza and Franksen each had 11 points. Franksen and Mazza scored nine and seven points, respectively, in the second half.
Sayad scored 10 points.
Stephanie Montanez scored a game-high 20 points, Melissa Mendoza had 10 and Shanice James added seven for Franklin, which fell to 3-6.
The score was tied at 31-all at the end of the third quarter.
"In the fourth quarter, we made them play defense," Nunes said. "We started taking our time with the ball. We started making passes and cutting. By having patience, we got easier shots."
Mazza and Franksen both scored six points in the fourth. Mazza made 4 of 6 free throws.
Sayad added four points in the final two minutes.
Ceres shot 77 percent (13-for-17) from the free-throw line for the game, including 75 percent (6-for-8) in the final quarter.
Franklin shot 47 percent (8-for-17) from the foul line.
Johansen plays host to Ceres tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Then the Bulldogs took control, outscoring the Yellowjackets 21-13 in the final quarter en route to a 52-44 victory.
"Franklin was a good team," said Ceres coach Shawna Nunes. "They're a lot better than their record indicated. They're a physical team. They're well coached."
Ceres' starting lineup totaled 46 points. All four seniors, Krystle Brown, Heather Mazza, Meghan Franksen and Kelsey Sayad, scored in double figures for the Bulldogs, who concluded the preseason with a 9-3 record.
Brown scored all 12 of her points in the first half.
Mazza and Franksen each had 11 points. Franksen and Mazza scored nine and seven points, respectively, in the second half.
Sayad scored 10 points.
Stephanie Montanez scored a game-high 20 points, Melissa Mendoza had 10 and Shanice James added seven for Franklin, which fell to 3-6.
The score was tied at 31-all at the end of the third quarter.
"In the fourth quarter, we made them play defense," Nunes said. "We started taking our time with the ball. We started making passes and cutting. By having patience, we got easier shots."
Mazza and Franksen both scored six points in the fourth. Mazza made 4 of 6 free throws.
Sayad added four points in the final two minutes.
Ceres shot 77 percent (13-for-17) from the free-throw line for the game, including 75 percent (6-for-8) in the final quarter.
Franklin shot 47 percent (8-for-17) from the foul line.
Johansen plays host to Ceres tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
