TURLOCK, Calif – Competing at the 11th annual Pitman Pride Holiday Classic on Thursday, the Orestimba High girls’ basketball team was looking for a better performance this time that the last time it was playing in a tournament.

But Riverbank’s squad had other ideas.

Riverbank, now a member of the Mother Lode League that was once a member of the Trans-Valley League in which Orestimba is now in, wasted no time in posting a 64-26 win over the Warriors in the first round of games at the Pride’s gym on Thursday.

“We were just off (Thursday),” said Orestimba head coach Dwain Bell. “Missed to many layups and close shots. Lost to a really good Riverbank team. Very well coached and have a couple really good players.”

Olivia Gray was the leading scorer for the Warriors with 11 points. Ashlynn Bell and Lilly Rocha followed with five points each and Mirella Fregoso finished with four.

The loss moved Orestimba (7-5) into the loser’s bracket on Friday, playing Argonaut of Jackson in a loser’s bracket game. Patterson sent Argonaut into the loser’s bracket by posting a 60-37 win that was also played on Thursday.

Due to an early deadline, the results of Orestimba’s games against Argonaut and Saturday to wrap up the three-day classic will run the first full week of January.

Other schools in the 8-team classic are Merced, Mountain House, Hughson and host Pitman. All four are in the opposite bracket.

Orestimba played at the Todd Messersmith Classic Invitational at Liberty Ranch High of Galt that ran from Dec. 11-14. The Warriors lost all three games at this invitational.

TVL action

Orestimba will begin league play at Sonora on Friday, Jan. 10.

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.