Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s boys basketball teams played three games in a five-day span this past week.
The Hawks improved to 14-12 overall and 8-4 in the Western Athletic Conference after rallying for a 65-56 win over Johansen on Friday in Modesto.
The Vikings dropped to 18-8 overall and 8-4 in the WAC.
Third-place Central Valley owns the tiebreaker over Johansen, which it beat twice this year
The top three teams in the WAC will be awarded playoff berths at the end of the regular season.
“It was a big-time win,” Hawks’ head coach Mike Rodriguez said.
“We’re familiar with each other,” he added. “We played a lot against each other during the offseason. We have similar playing styles. We’re evenly-matched.”
Central Valley’s Jace Mclennon tallied 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals versus Johansen.
Emmanuel Carranza had 16 points, five rebounds and one steal.
Andre Flores had 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Carranza, Dominguez, Flores, Mata and Albert Arevalo competed at home for the final time during Central Valley’s 74-61 triumph over Livingston on Senior Night in Ceres on Feb. 5.
“We’re having a solid season,” coach Rodriguez said. “I’m happy for them. They work hard. They lead by example. They’re great teammates.”
Flores had 15 points, five rebounds, four steals, two assists and one block against the Wolves.
Arevalo had six points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal.
Dominguez had two points and five rebounds.
Carranza had one point, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
Mclennon led the Hawks with 31 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Caden Mendonca added 13 points, two steals and one rebound.
Livingston kept the game close for three quarters.
Central Valley lost 55-47 at Beyer on Feb. 3.
“We played them tough twice this season,” Mike Rodriguez said.
Mclennon led the Hawks with 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Silas Rodriguez had 15 points and three assists.
Fifth-place Ceres High dropped to 10-6 overall and 5-7 in the WAC standings following Friday’s 46-38 loss to second-place Grace Davis at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Bulldog Manuel Ortega totaled 20 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, two assists and one block against the Spartans.
Ceres High edged Pacheco 45-41 on Feb. 5 in Los Banos.
Ortega led the Bulldogs with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Ceres High earned a hard-fought 69-67 in overtime while battling Lathrop on Feb. 3 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Ortega led the Bulldogs with 38 points, 14 rebounds, two steals and one block.
Central Valley and Ceres High will close out the WAC season this week.
The Bulldogs will play host to the Hawks on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Central Valley won the first meeting, 54-50.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Ceres High’s girls basketball team won one of two league games last week.
Central Valley suffered a pair of losses.
The third-place Bulldog dropped to 20-5 overall and 9-2 in the Western Athletic Conference standings after losing 56-55 to the Pacheco Panthers on Feb. 4 in Los Banos.
Lilly Staggs led Ceres High with 21 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Arrayah Stallworth added 15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block.
Ceres High topped host Lathrop 51-36 on Feb. 3.
Staggs led the Bulldogs with 25 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Carter had 12 points, nine rebounds and one assist.
Stallworth had eight points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists.
The seventh-place Hawks dropped to 7-18 overall and 1-10 in the WAC after losing 53-22 at Livingston on Feb. 4.
Emily Mariani led Central Valley with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Central Valley lost 46-38 to Beyer on Feb. 3 in Modesto.
Julyanna Valencia led the Hawks with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Ceres High and Central Valley will close out the WAC season this week.
The Bulldogs will play host to the Hawks this Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Ceres High won the first meeting, 58-16.
