A handful of local basketball teams will enter 2025 in the loss column after regional Christmas tournaments wrapped up over the weekend.
In Turlock on Saturday afternoon, the 11th annual Pitman Holiday Classic, sponsored by the Kiwanis of Greater Turlock, concluded. The Pride were featured in the co-main event, the third-place game against 13-2 Patterson. They lost 60-40.
The game was knotted at 12 after a quarter, the Tigers dominated the middle frames, outsourcing the Pride 35-16. The two teams were almost even in the final frame, with the Tigers winning the fourth 13-12, but the damage had been done.
Junior guard Dailynn Greener was the bright spot in an otherwise sloppy night in which they turned the ball over 28 games, just a day after racking up 25 in a 57-32 loss to eventual champion Mountain House. Greener scored a game-high 17 points on five field goals and seven free throws. She narrowly missed a double-double with eight rebounds. Also efficient in scoring was senior guard Elexi Pulido, who drained three shots from beyond the arc for her nine points.
The Pride will enter the new year with a 5-8 record, and will be back in action on Friday when they host 9-5 Calaveras. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
Bulldogs lose last two games of MC tournament
After Friday’s 53-45 win against Pleasant Valley in the first-round of the consolation bracket of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic, Turlock High’s boys team couldn’t find their footing against El Capitan of Merced and Edison of Stockton. They fell 56-37 to the Gauchos on Saturday, and wrapped their tournament appearance with a 53-40 loss to the Vikings. They finished 12 out of 16 teams.
If there were silver linings from the last five days, it’s that the Bulldogs showed that multiple guys can contribute to the scoring at any time. After Izaak Seanz scored 10 in their 66-39 tournament-opening loss Thursday to Stockton’s Weston Ranch, and Dutch Lawrence and Alex Esquibel each scored in double figures in Friday’s 53-45 win over Pleasant Valley, Donovan Muirbrook was the Bulldogs' top scorer Saturday with 10 points, and Daniel Joseph pitched in 11 Monday.
It’s especially encouraging that they proved so against elite competition from across the region and at one of the area’s more premier tournaments.
The Bulldogs, now 5-9, will look to get back on track next Wednesday when they host 8-7 Buhach Colony at 7:30 p.m.
Turlock girls winless at West Coast Jamboree
While Turlock’s boys team was able to muster one win, their girls team came up empty handed in three games over four days at the prestigious West Coast Jamboree in Livermore.
After Friday’s tournament-opening 60-21 loss to Carlmont, they lost 30-22 to Sanger West in Saturday’s consolation clash. In the 11th-place game on Monday, the Bulldogs came up just short, 37-35, to Arroyo of San Lorenzo.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 2-11 this season, and will travel to undefeated Dublin (7-0) on Jan. 4 looking to snap a five-game losing streak.
Hilmar fall to Grave Davis in Livingston
Livingston’s Holiday Classic brought similar disappointment for Hilmar’s boys team. In the third-place game against Grace Davis on Saturday afternoon, they lost 49-47. It was a much better showing than their 62-21 loss to Beyer on Friday, but a loss nonetheless. They finished the tournament 1-2 — their one win coming 55-53 Thursday against St. Vincent de Paul — and now sport a 4-9 record, still in search of a fight win that would match last year’s season-long total. Their next crack at it will be Friday at 7:15 p.m. in Modesto against Johansen.
Denair clashes with Turlock Christian in preseason action
Although neither had a holiday tournament scheduled this week, the Denair and Turlock Christian teams were still able to get in some preseason work against one another in doubleheader action on Friday night in Hughson.
In the opening game between the girls’ teams, Turlock Christian came away with a 34-25 win, backed by a double-double from senior Faith Hayes. She led all scorers with 18 points and shared the high in rebounds with teammate Christiana Eivaz. They each had 14 boards.
Denair fared better in the boys matchup, as they pulled out a 75-51 victory. Leading the way for the Coyotes was forward Koby Cervantes, who filled up the stat sheet with a double-double of 35 point and 15 rebounds, and three blocks and a pair of steals. The 6-foot-5 junior has now scored 30 or more points in three straight games.
Denair’s boys will face Sacramento’s Valley High on Thursday at 6 p.m. on their home court, while the girls will host Millenium of Tracy on Friday at 7 p.m.
As for the Eagles, the girls will travel to Dos Palos on Monday for a noon non-conference match, while the boys will travel to Lodi to face Elliot Christian next Wednesday at 5 p.m.
