GALT, Calif – Three games in four days.
The Orestimba High basketball team did just that last week, making the trek to Sacramento County to compete at the Todd Messersmith Classic Invitational at Liberty Ranch High. The Warriors concluded the invitational on Saturday by facing a Trans-Valley League foe.
Here is the breakdown in two of the Warriors’ three games at the invitational. Results and opponent of whom Orestimba played on Friday were not available at press time.
Ripon 41, Orestimba 39
The Warriors got a first look at playing Ripon, which is also part of the TVL, on Saturday. No additional information was available at press time.
Orestimba and Ripon will meet in a league game, at Ripon, on Jan. 14, 2025. Their second meeting will be in Newman on Feb. 4.
Liberty Ranch 61, Orestimba 41
In its first game at the invitational on Dec. 11, Orestimba stayed toe-to-toe with host Liberty Ranch, which won the classic.
The Warriors held a slim 14-13 lead after the first eight minutes of the game. Then the Hawks flew high with their defense, holding Orestimba to only six points. Liberty Ranch took advantage of missing Warrior shots and solid off the glass to score 16 points for a 29-20 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, the Warriors’ offense picked up the pace to scoring in double digits at 11. But Liberty Ranch came away with 15 points for a 44-31 lead entering the fourth quarter and went on to win the game.
Liberty Ranch had three scorers in double figures; Kamrynn Blevins led the way with 25 points, Summer McCoy 12 and Madisyn Robbins 10.
The Hawks were lethal on the boards with 44 in the contest. Blevins had 11 rebounds, McCoy and Robbins eight each.
Leaders
Forward Olivia Gray is the Warriors’ leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points per game in eight games this season.
Another frontcourt player in forward Ashlynn Bell is shooting 63% from the free throw line, also in eight games.
Bell has 23 rebounds this season. She is also averaging 3.8 rebounds per game, and 1.7 steals per game.
Warrior guard Lily Rocha is producing 1.7 assists in six games.
Guard Shantelle Pizarro is shooting 27% on attempting 3-pointers.
Upcoming games
Orestimba played at Downey of Modesto on Monday. The results were not available at press time.
On Tuesday, the Warriors hosted Venture Academy of Stockton in another non-league game.
Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushphotography.
