Second-year head coach Megan McGill expects to see major improvement from Ceres High School’s girls basketball program this season.
“This team can be great,” she said. “They’re super athletic. They pass the ball well. They have high basketball IQ. The girls have put in countless hours of work.”
The Bulldogs welcome back six players from a season ago, including Valeria Arroyo (Sr.), Makenna Azavedo (Sr.), Gaby Rebello (Sr.), Marissa Renteria (Sr.), Sovannary Carter (So.) and Arrayah Stallworth (So.).
Ceres High has seven newcomers in Serena Chalk (Sr.), Mireya Estrada (Sr.), Yareli Jimenez (Sr.), Kiera Valdovinos (Sr.), Haley Tsurui (Jr.), Jolissa Guillory (So.) and Mariah Renteria (So.).
“We’re a little more experienced this year,” McGill said. “We’re still young.”
Renteria and Carter have been named team captains.
Renteria averaged 13.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 1.4 assists per game as a junior.
She ranked first on the team in points and steals.
Carter averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a freshman.
“They both have great work ethics,” McGill said. “Whether it’s practice or a game, they’ll give you everything they have.”
Renteria starred at quarterback and safety while leading Ceres High’s inaugural girls flag football team to an 18-3 overall record, a first-place finish in the WAC (7-0) and to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs
She was voted Most Valuable Player of the WAC.
“Marissa is more vocal this year,” McGill said. “She has my permission to call whatever offense she wants.”
Stallworth averaged 5.9 points and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds per game as a freshman.
The Bulldogs posted a 6-20 overall record and finished in sixth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 3-11 mark last winter.
Ceres High beat Beyer twice and Grace Davis, Central Valley, Venture Academy and Stone Ridge Christian once.
Lathrop (21-7, 14-0) won the WAC title in 2022-23.
Mountain House (18-12, 10-4) took second.
Pacheco (17-11, 8-6), Johansen (17-11, 8-6) and Los Banos (15-14, 8-6) all tied for third.
Beyer (5-21, 3-11) and Grace Davis (5-18, 2-12) placed seven and last, respectively.
“Ideally, we’d like to win the WAC title and go to playoffs,” McGill said. “I feel good about our chances.”
The Bulldogs secured their last postseason berth in 2012-13. Ceres High finished 10-8 and took third in the WAC (6-4).
McGill coached girls basketball at the lower-level for three seasons before earning a promotion to the varsity.
She’s trying to bring consistency and stability to a program that had seven different head coaches in 10 years prior to her arrival.
Former Ceres High School girls basketball leader Shawna Nunes convinced McGill to coach the Bulldogs.
“We’re definitely headed in the right direction,” said McGill who’s taught English at the high school for the past seven years. “I’m excited to see what we achieve this year.”
Christopher Lubinsky, McGill’s brother and a former standout quarterback at Ceres High School, will serve as an assistant coach for the second year in a row.
Megan (35) is 10 years older than Christopher.
“He understands sports really well,” McGill said. “He’s good at giving me advice. It’s enjoyable to talk strategy with him.”
