Raiders crush Coyotes in title game

DENAIR - It was as if the scoreboard was playing mind games with the Denair High boys basketball team. In one moment, the Coyotes were up by nearly double-digits. Then the next moment, they were down by a bunch.

Washington’s big scoring effort leads to Pride win

After almost everyone walked out of the Pitman High gym and into Friday night's rain, there was a candid moment between the school's athletic director, Dave Walls, and the school's top girls basketball player.

Coyotes run wild

Led by Denair High guard Clayton McDonald's 17 points, the Coyotes defeated Central Valley High 68-50 in the semifinal game of the Denair High Tournament late Friday night to earn a spot in today's tournament championship game against Central Catholic at 8 p.m.

Bulldogs lose in dramatic fashion

Surprisingly, no one affiliated with the Turlock High boys basketball program closed his or her eyes in a sequence that appeared doomful. They watched in awe and anticipation, as the ball was repeatedly batted against the backboard and rim like a game of handball.

Eagles fall short in own tournament finale

The game didn't come down to the last minute, Turlock Christian girls basketball coach Edwin Santiago protested afterward.

Despite late rally, Turlock survives to earn rematch with Modesto Christian

There was just one team that stood between the Turlock High boys basketball players and a rematch with Modesto Christian in the championship game of the 34th annual Frank Godinez Tournament.

Pride fall to Laguna Creek

It seemed like the perfect time for a comeback.

It’s still early, but area wrestlers already thinking about state

For most high school wrestlers from the Turlock area, the goal every season is to take that drive down Highway 99 toward Bakersfield. It's there that all the state's best congregate for the CIF Championships in early March.

Denair wrestlers challenge each other in practice

Two years ago, Nick LaFrancis achieved something rare for a Denair High wrestler. He qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament, which is just one step from the elusive CIF State Championships in Bakersfield. Even if he didn't win a medal or a single match, making it that far is an unforgettable experience.

Pitman speed tops taller team

When going up against a boys basketball team full of giants, there's really only one thing you can do.

Hilmar starts, ends strong to best Waterford

As the Hilmar girls basketball team started their season by facing Waterford High Thursday night, first year coach Don Inman paced the sidelines, afraid to celebrate his birthday until the final buzzer.

Basketball teams go into season with hopes of success

This season, the girls basketball teams in the Turlock area will experience many different changes.

Bulldogs invest in tough preseason

For the Turlock High girls basketball players, it's hard to forget about what transpired on Feb. 25.

Turlock basketball pulls through for season-opening win

MODESTO - The way the game started, it was safe to assume that the Turlock boys basketball team was going to give the few dozen fans inside the cold Panther Palace gym on the Modesto High campus reasons to go home early.

After one season at varsity, junior Pitman guard looks to guide Pride

Zach Olsen is the type of high school kid who seems to have a smile painted on his face at all times. He's also the type that will ask a stranger how he's doing - and genuinely want to know the person's well being. But the Pitman High boys basketball player will admit that he wasn't in the most ideal situation last season.

First round loss for Bulldogs

Turlock High's hopes for a Division I Sac Joaquin Section title were dashed Wednesday night in Elk Grove when the Bulldogs (17-11 overall, 7-3 CCC) faced Franklin High. After a lack luster first half, Turlock climbed its way back into the game but was ultimately unable to overcome Wildcats. The final score read 67-65. "They came out on fire and we came out kind of flat," Turlock's head coach Doug Cornfoot said. "We ...

TC boys notch playoff win

Let the playoff blitz begin

Today's a big day for the post-season dreams of a number of high schoolers as three boys basketball teams compete for a chance at a San Joaquin Section title in their respective divisions. In the Division I bracket Turlock High travels to Franklin High of Elk Grove for the first round of tournament play. The 10th seed Bulldogs finished second in the Central California Conference with a 7-3 league record. Three Turlock players ...

Turlock, Pitman headed to Masters

Turlock High is sending seven wrestlers to the San Joaquin Section Division IA Finals, better known as the Masters Tournament, after a third place team finish at last weekend's SJS D1A Championships which was hosted at Pitman High. With wrestling stalwarts like Folsom, Ponderosa, and Elk Grove High added into the mix and 41 state ranked wrestlers present, Turlock's third place finish was a good warm up for Masters. "We got to ...

Hilmar girls fall short

Hilmar High's girls basketball team fell to top seeded Bear River High Tuesday night, 63-31, in the first round of the San Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs. The Yellowjackets, who defeated Mariposa High last Friday in a teeth clinching, out bracket 61-59 victory, were no match for the Bruins who put on a basketball clinic in the first half with steady treys and an inside attack. "They played really, really well," Hilmar's head ...

6 Bulldogs, 3 Pride to compete in Div. I semi-finals

Both Turlock and Pitman have eight wrestlers competing in day two of the Sac-Joaquin Section Divisional Tournament, held at Pitman High today. Six Bulldogs and three Pride grapplers are headed into the semi-finals; not too bad, but for Turlock coach Mike Contreras it could have been better. "It was a pretty tough tournament for our guys," he said after day one. Turlock entered Friday's tournament fresh off its eighth league championship in ...

TC’s Steeley signs with Dordt

For the first time in five years Turlock Christian High is sending an athlete to play collegiate football. Senior Nick Steeley recently signed with Iowa's Dordt College where he is expected to line up as a scatback for the Defenders. "I visited them and I liked what I saw; the Christian environment, people who care about you and actually want you to come and work hard and work with them as a family," ...

Delhi defeats TC in season finale

Delhi High may have earned its first post-season bid in eight years after defeating Turlock Christian High 66-54 on Saturday. The Hawks faced the Eagles in Pitman High's gym for TC's homecoming but it was Delhi who settled in and made the court theirs with a combination of speed and pressure. "It was a good win," Delhi's head coach Eugene Drummond said. Delhi jumped out to a huge lead after scoring 21 ...

All seven ‘Jacket wrestlers place at league tourney

Hilmar High completed its Trans Valley League wrestling season with a fourth place team finish at Saturday's TVL league tournament-impressive considering the Yellowjackets' seven-man roster. "It's tough with only half of the weight classes but fourth is awesome for only seven varsity kids," Hilmar's assistant coach Howie Tremble said. Saturday's performance ensured all seven 'Jackets a spot in Friday and Saturday's Divisional Tournament at Lyndhurst High. Antonio Melo secured his return ...

How much is too much when it comes to high school sports and winning?

I've been covering local sports for more than a year, enough time to experience all the firsts that come with the job-or so I thought. I was reminded that I hadn't seen it all Saturday night when I drove to Pitman High to cover back to back varsity games for Turlock Christian High's homecoming. TC's girls and boys teams hosted Delhi High in the final game of the regular season with the ladies ...

Turlock sweeps Pitman for final league victory

Turlock High put a cap on its regular season Friday night with a 48-36 win over rival Pitman High. The Bulldogs scored points in bunches, nine and 10 points at a time, and dictated the game's tempo on their way to victory. "We got out and jumped on them early, took the crowd out early on," Turlock's head coach Doug Cornfoot said. Junior Kenny Fraser led the offensive effort with 16 points, ...

Pitman girls rally second half comeback over energized Bulldogs

With post-season hopes gone, Thursday marked the final game of the season for both Turlock and Pitman High girls basketball teams. The Bulldogs, who experienced a season of struggle in 2012, were seen by many as the night's underdogs, but with a lively crowd watching their final home game they hit the court with renewed spirit. The Pride seemed stunned from the beginning of regulation as Turlock displayed an energized and fast paced ...

Bulldog wrestling claims league title, sends 12 to Divisionals

The Turlock High wrestling team entered Thursday's Central California League Tournament with heaping confidence. The Bulldogs had already bested their league foes through a string of duals, leaving one day of competition between them and an outright CCC Championship. But what started as a tournament of formality quickly transformed into a different day all together. An unexpected injury sidelined Ricco McCombs at 122 pounds before a disputed weigh-in with an uncertified scale prevented ...

Tom Tyler named Pitman’s new football coach

Pitman High announced Tom Tyler's selection for the vacant head football coach position on Friday. Tyler, former head coach for Turlock High from 1996-2006, will replace Brandon Harris who recently accepted a similar position at Columbia High in Nampa, Idaho. He will be the third head coach in the football program's history. "Part of what we wanted to do was to try and maintain the foundation that had been set by Larry (Nigro) ...

Turlock's Nicole Larson signs with CSU Stanislaus

Eight years ago Nicole Larson was introduced to a game called soccer. She had never played before but the call of competition sucked her in and hooked her instantly. Her Turlock Youth Soccer Association coach Jim Tejeda recognized her passion-and her talent-and made a bold prediction. That girl is going to play in college someday, he said. The idea of playing soccer at the collegiate level resonated well with Larson, and just ...