Hilmar wrestling on brink of school history

It's no secret that Hilmar High's Dave Exline has had one of his tougher seasons as a high school wrestling coach.

Even with bad shoulders, Serpa one of Turlock’s best

If Nicole Serpa decides to become a coach, she'll likely have these pieces of advice for her players about rebounding:

Turlock’s Gong takes first

Hannah Gong of Turlock High girls golf placed first at the 17th River Oaks Junior Match Play Championships at the River Oaks Golf Course in Ceres after outlasting Julian Salazar of Johansen High 6-4 in the finals.

Bulldogs pull out OT victory over visiting Golden Valley, earn share of CCC title

The Turlock High boys basketball team's one Central California Conference loss has been avenged – but it didn't come easy.

Turlock’s dual loss means crucial showdown with Pitman

The Turlock High wrestlers didn't get the win that they needed against Golden Valley High on Wednesday night, but the Bulldogs were still pleased with the results.

Off the bench, Ruesga scores 17 in first of 3 games this week

In almost every game, Turlock High's Matt Ruesga provides a unique stat. It's the kind that a high school boys basketball supporter doesn't see too often, perhaps because the amount of sacrifice it requires.

Bulldogs ready for dual meet showdown

For coach Mike Contreras, it was difficult to predict the future.

Pitman finishes with 6 placers at tourney

This time, it wasn't the Emilio Saavedra show. That's because Pitman High wrestling coach Adam Vasconcellos decided to give the freshman sensation - already considered a favorite to win the state's 103-pound title in March and the winner of numerous tournaments this season - the weekend off.

After tough week, Pitman’s Ismail leads in win

Pitman High's Zaya Ismail did not have the best week.

Against determined Pitman squad, Bulldogs pull through late

Just seconds after his team survived one of the season's closest calls, Turlock High boys basketball reserve Cristian Jinenez let out an excited "woo!" Even from his point of view, he knew this win was big. So his gesture could've also been easily taken as a sigh of relief. On Wednesday night, the Bulldogs did not thrash ...

Ruesga gets second chance with Bulldogs

Matt Ruesga is a hard-to-miss type of person.

Bulldogs win clash of league unbeatens

On Tuesday night, the Turlock High girls basketball team was thrown into an environment that the girls hadn't seen much of this season. They were inside the gym of their crosstown rivals, with hundreds of fans packing the stands - though the Turlock side might've had more people. They all roared when something significant happened.

Pitman’s Saavedra, Turlock’s Garcia hold their own

In one of the major gauges of the state tournament, last weekend's Temecula Valley Invitational allowed wrestlers from the Turlock area to go up against elite competition. Some of them did well - well enough to go home with first-place medals and respect from their peers.

Coyotes lose bite

DENAIR - On most nights, the shots would've fallen. The crowd would've erupted in cheers. And Denair High boys basketball coach Curtis Wooten would've had something else to worry about.

One game at a time

Tuesday night will be the first of three battles this season between the Turlock and Pitman high girls basketball teams. The Pride players talked with excitement earlier this week about the upcoming matchup, adding that "we're ready."

Pride drops early lead to Merced

Pitman High's girls basketball team suffered its fourth straight loss Thursday night when they hosted Merced High. The Bears (2-3 CCC) rallied in the second half to overtake the Pride (3-3 CCC), finishing the game 42-38. Pitman controlled the game early on, leading 12-3 at the end of the first quarter. Merced's offensive schemes were ineffective and its players seemed disoriented as Pitman's defense forced turnover after turnover. Alex DeChari's inside presence and ...

Turlock, Pitman wrestling teams each earn dual wins

Turlock High's wrestling team continued its impressive streak of dual wins on Wednesday. The Bulldogs (3-0 CCC) defeated Buhach Colony High 51-18, marking their 22nd consecutive dual win of the season. Turlock claimed 10 of the dual's 14 matches, recording three pins, two major decisions and one tech. The Bulldogs' quest for their seventh Central California Conference title in the last 10 years will hinge on their performance in the final two conference ...

Pitman orchestrates dramatic comeback in overtime win against Turlock

Turlock comes out on top; Missed shots foil Pitman’s chances at victory

It was a festival of fouls Tuesday night when the girls of Pitman High stepped onto the court in Bulldog Arena to face Turlock High. The Bulldogs (4-1 CCC) defeated the Pride (3-2 CCC) in their first meeting of the season 37-27, finishing second in the first round of CCC matchups. Pitman tried to establish an inside presence with Alex DiChari early in the game, scoring three points in the opening minutes of ...

Turlock falls to Cougars at home

Turlock High had a rough outing against Golden Valley High Friday night. The Bulldogs (3-1 CCC) struggled to hit their stride as the Cougars (3-1 CCC) handed them their first league loss by a score of 65-38. "Golden Valley is better than what they've been playing the last few games," Turlock's head coach Doug Cornfoot said. "We were hoping they would have a slump with their three-point shooting for one more game." <p ...

Pitman comes close, but falls short against Buhach

Pitman High's girls basketball team hosted Buhach Colony High Thursday night in its biggest game of the season so far. The Pride (3-1 CCC) and Thunder (4-0 CCC) played a physical, back and forth game in an attempt to maintain a perfect league record and claim a spot atop the CCC. Both teams entered the gym determined to win but it was the Thunder who left with their undefeated record intact, beating Pitman 45-42. ...

Pride overpowered by Cougars

Pitman High's wrestlers knew Wednesday's dual against Golden Valley High was going to be tough. Still, the Pride (1-1 CCC) entered their second dual of the year against the Cougars in high fashion, warming up to a theatrical multi-media introduction that projected a high degree of confidence. Unfortunately for Pitman, the intensity didn't translate onto the mat as the Cougars claimed victory 52-17. "We thought we'd get some more wins," Pitman's head coach ...

Girls basketball heats up

Turlock High's girls won their third straight game Thursday night against Golden Valley in a close contest. The 38-30 win positions the Bulldogs with Pitman in a tie for second place in the CCC, just in time for their first meeting of the season on Tuesday. Turlock led for the majority of the game, relying on Lindy Avila (13 points) and Shiloh Sotto (10 points) to put points on the board. Late in ...

Bulldogs beat Atwater, advance to 2-1 in CCC

The girls of Turlock High cruised to their second league victory against Atwater High Tuesday night. The Bulldogs (5-10 overall, 2-1 CCC) controlled the ball in every aspect in their 55-34 win over the Falcons (2-13 overall, 1-2 CCC). "We're playing better and better," Turlock's head coach Salinda Mabie said. "This was a strong performance for us at home." Turlock held a consistent lead over Atwater the entire game, using its press ...

TC’s team effort is too much for Denair

Turlock Christian High hosted Denair High's girls basketball team Monday night in another dominant performance. The Eagles (14-2 overall, 3-0 Southern League), who were without their star player Halie Bergman, won their fourth straight game, defeating the Coyotes (3-9 overall, 1-2 SL) 47-22. "We all stepped up today," TC's head coach Edwin Santiago said. "As a team, they're really gelling together; the chemistry is really good right now." From the onset it ...

Pitman girls remain undefeated

Pitman High positioned itself atop the CCC with a 51-38 win over Golden Valley High on Tuesday. The Pride (5-9 overall) utilized a strong defense to hold the Cougars at bay and remain undefeated in league play. Marissa Marable finished the night with 10 points and Parmine Randhawa finished with eight in a performance that saw a total of nine Pride players find the basket. Golden Valley trailed by double digits the entire ...

Turlock trumps competition at Bulldog Classic

Wrestlers from 23 schools, including Turlock, Denair and Hilmar High, crowded into Turlock's Bulldog Stadium Saturday morning to compete in the 20th annual Bulldog Classic. After dozens of matches and more than nine hours of wrestling, the Bulldogs claimed their third tournament title of the year with a total of 18 and half points and three champions. "We've gone to four tournaments and won three of them," Turlock's head coach Mike Contreras said. ...

Pitman’s second half rally earns a win

It wasn't looking good for Pitman High's boys basketball team when they hosted Merced High Wednesday night. The Pride's first half was a slow one chocked full of missed shots and turnovers. Despite the rough start Pitman was able to battle back after halftime and defeat the Bears 57-44. "Merced is a lot better than their record. They came out with a high level of intensity that we didn't match (in the first ...

Pride slashes Falcons for second straight win

Pitman High's girls basketball players entered their second league matchup against Atwater High on Thursday with a heightened sense of confidence. Two days after defeating a highly athletic Merced High team, the Pride won its second game in the CCC, beating the Falcons 59-38. "They're understanding their roles," Pitman's head coach Keith Larsen said. "We're getting better, a lot better than we were a month ago." The Pride opened up the game ...

Turlock, Pitman and Hilmar wrestling teams notch league wins

It was a successful day Wednesday for the wrestlers at Turlock, Pitman and Hilmar highs. The three teams won their first league duals against Merced, Atwater and Orestimba High, respectively. Turlock's first CCC win was also its 20th straight dual victory this year. The Bulldogs defeated the Bears 46-16 in another dominant performance. Jason Valdovinos, Rico McCombs and Jessey Velasquez all recorded pins against the formidable Merced team. Pitman's 44-33 victory over ...