Dominant first half leads Modesto Christian to 18-point win over St. Mary’s
The Modesto Christian boys basketball team, in its second round of Tri-City Athletic League play, cruised past St. Mary’s in a Sac-Joaquin Top 10 match-up, thanks to a dominant first half.
Modesto Christian got out to an early lead on the back of its defense, led by 23 points at the half and never looked back in its 65-47 win. It was the second win over St. Mary’s in three weeks for the Crusaders. Modesto Christian prevailed 67-52 on Jan. 9.
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While it looked like the Crusaders (19-6, 9-0) wanted Monday’s game to be a statement win, the dominant first half wasn’t planned.
“That’s just how it happened,” senior guard Bj Davis said. “We don’t really try to have one of our goals be to blow a team out. We just try to go in there, play solid defense, do what we do and the score shows.”
With the win Modesto Christian’s TCAL record stands at 9-0.
Freshman guard Rashod Cotton led the Crusaders in scoring, with 17 points in three quarters. Davis and guard Jalen Brown added 14 and 15, respectively, and Prince Oseya added 12.
Modesto Christian turned steals and defensive rebounds into transition points and allowed just 10 points in the second quarter. After swiping his third steal of the first half, Cotton tossed a full-court pass to Oseya for a thundering dunk that capped an 11-0 run, giving the Crusaders a 31-12 lead with 2 minutes, 36 seconds left in the second quarter.
They took a 39-16 lead into halftime.
“I think we’re an elite defensive team,” head coach Brice Fantazia said. “I think we’re one of the best defensive teams in California. We just have to do it for 32 minutes.”
Earlier this season, Modesto Christian won 13 straight games before losing two games on a recent Midwest road trip. The games against St. Rita of Chicago and Vashon of St. Louis were a change of pace.
“It’s a different level of physicality (in Northern California) compared to the Midwest,” Fantazia said. “We’re just trying to carry that physicality and that effort over here back in Northern California. I thought we did in the first half tonight.”
Despite a blowout win, the Crusaders allowed 30 points in the third quarter, a learning experience for the team with hopes of a deep Division I playoff push.
“Our guys have great respect for St. Mary’s,” he said. “Coach Green is a great coach. They’re one of the top programs in NorCal … so our guys were ready for the game. We just didn’t play the full 32 minutes, which as a coach you’re never happy with.”
The Crusaders play on the road against Tracy High on Wednesday and then host Lincoln and West in their final two league games before the section playoffs.
“I’m just expecting everybody’s best shot,” Davis said. “We’ve got to get back to work and get ready for the playoff atmosphere. It’s a grind. (We’re) just trying to take our game to that one next level.”
Girls basketball
Waterford 52, Le Grand 41: The Wildcats used a 20-point fourth quarter to pull away from Le Grand en route to their seventh Southern League win. Waterford sits in second behind Orestimba.
Orestimba 44, Denair 22: Kelsey Maninha and Taylor Gray scored 11 and 10 points, helping the Warriors maintain their perfect Southern League record.
Girls soccer
Ripon Christian 10, Mariposa County 0: Hailey Henderson tallied a hat trick while Addison DeJong and Dayna Koolhaas added two goals a piece as the Knights coasted to a league win. Teagan Chapman and Tara Heida combined for the shutout.
Beyer 12, Pacheco 2: The Patriots scored six goals in each half, as they celebrated senior night. Isabella Rodriguez recorded a hat trick in the first half and Idaho State commit Ashlee Leonetti scored four goals and added five assists.
Oakdale 2, Central Catholic 0: The Mustangs scored one goal in each half as they maintained first place in the Valley Oak League. They will have a chance to win the league outright with victories over Manteca on Wednesday and Kimball on Monday.
Mountain House 1, Ceres 0: Ceres dropped its third league game of the season Monday. The Bulldogs remain in second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings despite the loss.
Patterson 3, Buhach Colony 0: Patterson continued its strong season as the Central California Conference leader. The Tigers scored twice in the first half and once in the second to secure the win.
Boys soccer
Ripon Christian 7, Mariposa County 1: The Knights dominated the first half, scoring five goals while holding Mariposa County scoreless. The win Monday was Ripon Christian’s third this season.
Central Valley 4, Patterson 3: The Hawks allowed three second-half goals, but two scores in the first and second periods powered them to their fourth Central California Conference win.
Denair 2, Orestimba 1: Orestimba had its six-game winning streak snapped in its Southern Athletic League loss Monday. Alfredo Figueroa scored the Warriors’ lone goal.
Lathrop 5, Ceres 1: The Bulldogs allowed goals from four Spartans in their fourth Western Athletic Conference loss this season. The loss to the league’s leader ends a two-game winning streak. Ceres will play the WAC’s second-place team, Davis, on Wednesday.
