NEWMAN, Calif – The Orestimba High boys basketball team ended Trans-Valley League action and the regular season at home on Friday.
Taking on Escalon, the host Warriors were looking to end the season on a winning note. But the visiting Cougars made noise and came away with a 64-48 win.
Orestimba (3-9 in the TVL, 8-20 overall) held a 10-8 lead over Escalon after the first quarter. But the Cougars roared back in the second quarter by outscoring the Warriors 21-7, which would give Escalon a 28-17 lead.
Twenty-one seemed to have been a lucky number for Escalon in the third quarter, as it outscored the Warriors 21-16 to expand its lead to 49-33 advantage.
Ripon Christian 54, Orestimba 38
The host Knights ran past the Warriors in a Feb. 12 game.
Regular season
The season started slow for Orestimba, which lost its first six non-league games of the season.
But the Warriors picked up momentum toward the end of preseason action, winning five of their six games toward the end of December entering TVL action. That momentum led to a 5-7 record entering TVL action.
But Orestimba lost its next nine games. The Warriors’ wins in league came against Westside rival Hilmar, plus Sonora and Hughson. The latter game saw Orestimba win in double overtime.
The seniors who were on the Warriors squad this season were Mathew Wales, Devon Bell and Jacob Valenzuela.
The juniors on this year’s squad are Alan Gamboa, Rudy Corona, Colton Reeves, Emiliano Alvarez, Jaden Sotelo, Richie Rivas, Traveyon Wright Jr. and Jesus Abrica.
There were two underclassmen on the team in sophomore Michael Maier and freshman Brett Gray.
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.
