Ceres High athletic director Phil de la Porte escorted Bulldog forward Derrick Goblirsch into the locker room. The senior was ejected in the third quarter of Friday night's game against Modesto Metro Conference rival Johansen.
Goblirsch left the bench in an effort to help separate teammate Ross Tate and Johansen's Derek King. Tate and King were involved in an altercation in front of the Vikings' bench.
"We were both going for a loose ball," Tate said.
"I barely nudged him when he was already on the ground and he fell."
Added Ceres coach Jason Martin. "It was a real physical game. The referees let it get out of control."
Playing without their team captain, the Bulldogs lost 55-48 to the Vikings in Ceres. Johansen outscored Ceres 8-3 in the final 1:07.
"It's very frustrating," said Zack Wiedenbeck, Ceres High's 6-foot-4, 205-pound center. "I'm sick of losing in league."
Charlie Cunha had 15 points, including four 3-pointers, Goblirsch and Zack Wiedenbeck each scored eight points, and Matt Schwark, Kevin Dupree and Rafael Valenica all tallied four points for Ceres, which fell to 0-2 in the MMC, 6-8 overall.
Brian Bergerson scored a game-high 21 points for Johansen (2-0 MMC). Jordan Coenan and Nick Jantz had seven and six points, respectively. E.J. Bryant and James Campbell each added five points.
Ceres came out sluggish in the third quarter and trailed by 7 heading into the final quarter. The Bulldogs made just 2 of 12 shots from the field and committed seven turnovers. The Vikings made 5 of 13 shots.
"The kids got to understand you can't give up possessions," Martin said. "We got to take care of the ball.
"We didn't shoot very well either."
Said Wiedenbeck: "We came out flat in the third quarter. Our shots were bouncing in and out."
Down 38-31, Ceres opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run. Cunha buried a 3-pointer to cut Johansen's lead to 38-37 with 6:38 remaining.
The Vikings responded with a 6-0 run. Isaac Duran, Ernie Ruiz and Bergerson each had two points for Johansen, which increased its lead to 45-37 with 3:47 remaining.
The Bulldogs pulled to 47-45 with 1:07 to play on Dupree's basket. His score capped an 8-0 Ceres run. Bryant Hill, Wiedenbeck and Tate all scored two points.
Johansen made 8 of 8 free throws in the final minute of play.
The Bulldogs shot 22 percent (7-for-32) from the field, 60 percent (6-for-10) from the free-throw line and had eight turnovers in the second half. The Vikings shot 35 percent (8-for-23) from the field, 64 percent (14-for-22) from the foul line and committed eight turnovers.
Ceres trailed 25-22 at halftime, including 16-12 heading into the second quarter. Bergerson had 11 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers.
"They came out and shot lights out," Martin said. "They made five 3-pointers in the first quarter."
Ceres shot 69 percent (11-for-16) from the foul line for the game. Johansen shot 59 percent (17-for-29).
The Bulldogs play at Downey on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. and against Davis at Blaker-Kinser Jr. High on Saturday at 5 p.m. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Goblirsch left the bench in an effort to help separate teammate Ross Tate and Johansen's Derek King. Tate and King were involved in an altercation in front of the Vikings' bench.
"We were both going for a loose ball," Tate said.
"I barely nudged him when he was already on the ground and he fell."
Added Ceres coach Jason Martin. "It was a real physical game. The referees let it get out of control."
Playing without their team captain, the Bulldogs lost 55-48 to the Vikings in Ceres. Johansen outscored Ceres 8-3 in the final 1:07.
"It's very frustrating," said Zack Wiedenbeck, Ceres High's 6-foot-4, 205-pound center. "I'm sick of losing in league."
Charlie Cunha had 15 points, including four 3-pointers, Goblirsch and Zack Wiedenbeck each scored eight points, and Matt Schwark, Kevin Dupree and Rafael Valenica all tallied four points for Ceres, which fell to 0-2 in the MMC, 6-8 overall.
Brian Bergerson scored a game-high 21 points for Johansen (2-0 MMC). Jordan Coenan and Nick Jantz had seven and six points, respectively. E.J. Bryant and James Campbell each added five points.
Ceres came out sluggish in the third quarter and trailed by 7 heading into the final quarter. The Bulldogs made just 2 of 12 shots from the field and committed seven turnovers. The Vikings made 5 of 13 shots.
"The kids got to understand you can't give up possessions," Martin said. "We got to take care of the ball.
"We didn't shoot very well either."
Said Wiedenbeck: "We came out flat in the third quarter. Our shots were bouncing in and out."
Down 38-31, Ceres opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run. Cunha buried a 3-pointer to cut Johansen's lead to 38-37 with 6:38 remaining.
The Vikings responded with a 6-0 run. Isaac Duran, Ernie Ruiz and Bergerson each had two points for Johansen, which increased its lead to 45-37 with 3:47 remaining.
The Bulldogs pulled to 47-45 with 1:07 to play on Dupree's basket. His score capped an 8-0 Ceres run. Bryant Hill, Wiedenbeck and Tate all scored two points.
Johansen made 8 of 8 free throws in the final minute of play.
The Bulldogs shot 22 percent (7-for-32) from the field, 60 percent (6-for-10) from the free-throw line and had eight turnovers in the second half. The Vikings shot 35 percent (8-for-23) from the field, 64 percent (14-for-22) from the foul line and committed eight turnovers.
Ceres trailed 25-22 at halftime, including 16-12 heading into the second quarter. Bergerson had 11 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers.
"They came out and shot lights out," Martin said. "They made five 3-pointers in the first quarter."
Ceres shot 69 percent (11-for-16) from the foul line for the game. Johansen shot 59 percent (17-for-29).
The Bulldogs play at Downey on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. and against Davis at Blaker-Kinser Jr. High on Saturday at 5 p.m. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
