NEWMAN, Calif – After losing its first six non-league games of the season, the Orestimba High boys basketball team has won two of its last three games.
Hosting Modesto High in a non-league game on Friday, Orestimba (2-7) had three players lead the way in posting an 81-61 win over the visiting Panthers.
Orestimba jumped out to a 26-17 lead in the first quarter, which clearly set the tone. The Warriors continued to build their lead over Modesto in the second quarter with a 31-12 score. That led to a 57-29 halftime score.
Devon Bell was the leading scorer for Orestimba with 20 points. Matthew Wales followed in scoring for the Warriors with 17 points, Rudy Corona 16 and Michael Maier 10.
Bell produced a double-double for the game, as he grabbed 12 rebounds that included 10 on defense. The Warriors had 41 against the Panthers.
Jacob Valenzuela followed in pulling the ball off the glass for the Warriors with eight. Maier had seven and Wales four.
Bell was busy dishing out the ball, as he had five of the Warriors’ 18 assists. He also had five steals. Orestimba finished the contest with 10.
Valenzuela had four assists and Emiliano Alvarez three.
Orestimba picked up its first win of the season on Dec. 11, when it beat Pacheco 50-39 in Los Banos.
Tracy 76, Orestimba 38
In another non-league game but on the west side of San Joaquin County on Dec. 16, host Tracy was the one that jumped out to an early lead and never looked back against Orestimba.
The host Bulldogs outscored the Warriors 20-9 in the first quarter. Then Tracy continued its scoring frenzy with a 26-17 advantage in the second quarter for a 46-26 halftime lead.
Bell had 13 points for Orestimba in this game. Wales followed with eight points, Alvarez six and Wales five.
The Warriors only had 20 rebounds against the Bulldogs.
Upcoming home game
Orestimba will be back in action on Thursday, Dec. 26 when it hosts Riverbank in a non-league game that is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.
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.
