Ceres High’s boys basketball team remained in the hunt for a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth this past week after winning three league games.
The Bulldogs improved to 16-9 overall and climbed from fourth to third in the Western Athletic Conference standings (9-3).
The top three teams in the WAC will secure postseason spots at the end of the regular season.
A fourth team from the league could receive an at-large playoff berth.
“This is what we’ve been working towards,” Ceres High leader T.J. Walker Jr. said. “We just have to take care of business.”
Coach Walker received a text message from Adrian Ontiveros the night before the Ceres High-Beyer game on Jan. 31.
“I want all 32 minutes,” the senior point guard said.
Ontiveros scored a team-high 17 points while never leaving the court as the Bulldogs avenged a 57-33 blowout loss to the Patriots with a hard-fought 58-57 victory at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Ontiveros made one of two free throws to break a 57-57 tie with 1.6 seconds to play during the rematch.
“I wasn’t going to take him off the floor,” Walker said. “I knew something special was coming. He always steps up in big moments. He’s the best point guard in our league.”
Ceres High teammate Lebron Stallworth added 18 points and six rebounds.
Bulldog Verlis Smith had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Ceres High overcame double-digit deficits twice on its way to edging out Beyer.
The Bulldogs trailed by as much as 11 points in the third quarter.
“We shot the ball better and made them take tougher shots,” Walker said.
The Patriots dropped to fourth place in the WAC standings.
Ceres High lost 57-33 at Beyer on Jan. 26.
The Bulldogs exacted revenge six days later.
“The turnaround was really quick,” Walker said. “We were ready to play this time.”
Ceres High won 55-38 at Johansen on Wednesday in Modesto.
Smith led the Bulldogs with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Ontiveros had 12 points and three rebounds.
Stallworth collected nine points and 14 rebounds.
Ricky Stanley tallied six points.
Ceres High spoiled Los Banos’ homecoming with a 68-64 victory in overtime on Friday.
Ontiveros, Smith and Stallworth scored a combined 58 points.
“When they play like this, good things happen,” Walker said.
Ontiveros made six treys on his way to tallying a team-high 23 points.
Smith collected 20 points and nine rebounds.
Stallworth chipped in with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bulldogs are trying to secure their first playoff berth under fifth-year leader Walker’s guidance.
Ceres High posted a 5-10 overall record and placed second in WAC South Division standings (5-3) this past winter. Playoffs were postponed for all sports during the 2020-21 school year because of a late start to the season due to COVID-19.
Ceres High will close out WAC play with week.
The Bulldogs will face Grace Davis and Mountain House.
Hawks winless in CCC
The Central Valley boys basketball team’s struggles against Central California Conference competition continued this past week.
The Hawks remained winless in league after being beaten by Merced, Golden Valley, Buhach Colony and Atwater.
“Maybe they were tired from playing five games in six days,” head coach Mike Rodriguez said. “We didn’t look like ourselves.”
Central Valley dropped to 8-16 overall and 0-9 in the CCC standings after falling 61-39 at Merced on Saturday.
Jordan Powers led the Hawks in scoring with 20 points.
Central Valley lost 61-59 at Golden Valley on Friday.
The Cougars put back a missed layup with 5 seconds left in regulation.
Powers led the Hawks with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Jeremy Alvarez had 11 points.
Cameron Bradshaw had nine points, four rebounds and four assists.
Gabe Mastropierro had eight points, five assists and three rebounds.
Yoshi Kumar had five points and eight rebounds.
Central Valley lost 71-62 to Buhach Colony on Senior Night in Ceres on Wednesday.
Upperclassmen Powers, Kumar, Erick Pena and Willy Souksavath competed at home for the final time.
“They got better each year with their work ethic,” Rodriguez said. “Great example for the young guys to follow.”
Mastropierro led the Hawks with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Jagdeep Hundal had 10 points.
Kumar had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Powers had eight points and nine rebounds.
Central Valley lost 66-57 in overtime to Golden Valley on Feb. 1 in Ceres.
Mastropierro led the Hawks with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Powers had 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Kumar had eight points and eight rebounds.
Central Valley lost 64-44 at Atwater on Jan. 31.
Powers led the Hawks with 20 points and six rebounds.
Kumar had nine points and seven rebounds.
Mastropierro had eight points and 10 rebounds.
Central Valley will close out the CCC season this week.
The Hawks will play at El Capitan today and Patterson on Friday.
Central Valley will try to end a nine-game losing streak.
Bulldogs struggle
Ceres High’s shorthanded girls basketball team dropped out of playoff contention this past week thanks to an 0-2 showing against league competition.
“I don’t make excuses,” said Mike Estrada, fourth-year leader of the Bulldogs. “I wasn’t able to coach our girls well enough to get to the postseason.”
Ceres High lost 48-25 to Los Banos on Thursday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs to fell to 7-18 overall and sixth in the Western Athletic Conference standings (4-8).
Celeste Leon tallied a team-high nine points for Ceres High.
Jaleen Melendez added six points.
Alayna De La Torre and Carmen Espinoza both contributed five points.
Johansen exacted revenge with a 44-21 victory over Ceres High on Senior Night at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium on Feb. 1.
Leon scored a team-high nine points.
De La Torre collected four points
Melendez totaled three points.
Espinoza and Alexa Sandoval both contributed two points.
Sandra Espinoza had one point.
Rodriguez, Leon, De La Torre, Sandra Espinoza, Jalaycie Melendez and Citlali Miranda, Ceres High’s six seniors, competed at home for the final time.
“They were committed,” Estrada said. “They set an example of what it means to be a hard worker.”
Rodriguez and Jalaycie Melendez were sidelined with season-ending injuries this past week. “It was tough to score the ball without Mia,” Estrada said. “Our offense goes through her.”
