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‘Jackets lose battles with Warriors in Christmas Classic action
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Hilmar's Madalyn Alvares shoots past Orestimaba's Kelsey Maninha and Olivia Gray at the Hilmar High Christmas Classic (SAMANTHA SCHMIDT/The Journal).

HILMAR — Orestimba High’s Jenessa Gonzalez hit three 3-point field goals win a three-minute span to help the Warriors pull away from the host Yellowjackets for a 43-31 victory in the annual Hilmar Christmas Classic Tournament on Friday.

Hilmar trailed for the majority of the contest but cut the deficit to one point — 26-25 with about 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter. But Gonzalez hit a trey to make it a four-point game heading into the final eight minutes of play. 

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Camryn Mattos tries to find an opening past Orestimba defender Lilly Rocha (SAMANTHA SCHMIDT/The Journal).

After Orestimba’s Olivia Gray scored to make it 31-25, Gonzalez hit trifectas on back-to-back possessions, making it 37-25 with 5:20 remaining.

Hilmar’s Emma Gomes ended the 11-point run to make it 37-27, but Hilmar then turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions as the Warriors stretched the margin to 43-27.

Individually for Orestimba, Gonzalez finished with a team-high 12 points, while teammate Ashlynn Bell chimed in with nine points.

Hilmar was led by Gomes, who scored a game-high 14.

“I learned tonight that we have the ability create momentum and change the game,” said Hilmar coach Luciana Naldi. “Our goal now is to work toward sustaining that momentum.”

The Warriors, who improve to 5-5 with the victory, will play Davis at 1 p.m. today. Hilmar, which dips to 7-4, will take on Summerville today at 4 p.m.

The Yellowjackets opened the Classic on Thursday with a 61-36 win over Davis, while the Warriors topped Summerville 39-22.

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Hilmar's Jason Moniz leaps for the basket during Hilmar High's Christmas Classic (SAMANTHA SCHMIDT/The Journal).

BOYS: Orestimba 71, Hilmar 20 — The Warriors jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. 

Orestimba (7-2) got nine first-quarter points from Blake Melo, who finished the game with 11, while teammate Caleb Marin Domingez had seven points in the opening stanza and finished with a 12. Angel Reynoso chipped with six in the first quarter, and ended up with a game-high 16.

Aaron Solorio paced Hilmar (2-8) with eight points.

“There are going to be nights where we play great but can’t buy a bucket,” said Hilmar coach Austin Keaton. “That’s part of the game and you’ve got to live with it at times. But we’re taking steps. Just trying to find small victories each night out to build on for the next day.” 

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Hilmar's Xavier Silveira tries to keep the ball safe from a band of Orestimaba Warriors (SAMANTHA SCHMIDT/The Journal).

The Warriors will see action again today at 2:30 p.m. when they take on Los Banos, while the Yellowjackets will bring down the curtain on the Classic with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Summerville.