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.

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 ...

Falcons take Bulldogs

Atwater High was back in Turlock Tuesday night, five days after a failed comeback attempt against Pitman High. This time the Falcons faced off against Turlock High in a game with a much different tone. Atwater hit the Bulldogs early and often with consistent scoring and rebounding en route to a 40-34 victory. The difference was simple: Atwater was on target-Turlock was not. "It was all about rebounding," Turlock's head coach Michelle ...

Hilmar handles Orestimba

Hilmar High redirected its ship Monday night when the Orestimba High Warriors rolled into town. After dropping consecutive games to Modesto Christian and Riverbank High, the Yellowjackets (17-6 overall, 5-5 TVL) saved their Trans Valley League season with a dominant 57-41 victory over the Warriors (5-20 overall, 0-10 TVL) to put them in the top tier of league standings. "We needed to get some momentum back before playoffs," Hilmar's head coach Don Inman ...

Eagles drop tough loss to Knights

RIPON - The Southern League girls basketball title is likely to be shared by its two parochial schools for a second straight season. Ripon Christian held off a fourth-quarter charge by Haile Bergman and the Turlock Christian Eagles to prevail 64-53 and force a two-way tie atop the conference standings with three games remaining. "We wanted it badly," said Bergman, who poured in 29 points, seven rebounds, four assists, five steals and ...

Pride put down Falcons

It was all about control for Pitman High Thursday night when Atwater High rolled into town. The Pride (4-4 CCC) welcomed the Falcons (4-4 CCC) onto their court with a relentless press, accented by fast break layups and a strong presence in the paint. Pitman's girls left Atwater's players and coaches flustered as they regularly tipped and intercepted passes and sometimes even snatched the ball right out of their opponent's hands. "We're ...

Turlock tops Pitman

It was the final dual meet of the season Wednesday night and fans from both Turlock and Pitman High sat in the stands of Turlock's girls gym, giddy with anticipation and ready to watch the cross-town rivals compete on the mat. For a few Bulldog seniors it would be their last chance to wrestle in front of a home crowd-but some never got the chance. In a rare set of circumstances, the Pride ...

Five Pride grapplers medal at home tourney

Normally Pitman High's aim is a top tier finish at its annual home tournament, the Rumble in the Jungle, but with eight wrestlers sidelined due to match count the Pride hit the mat on Saturday with their sights set on individual success. By tournament's end Pitman had achieved its goal, medaling five wrestlers and finishing 9th as a team with 90.5 points. "I knew we weren't going to finish as best as ...

Turlock lets Golden Valley slip by with win

It was the matchup of the season Friday night. Turlock High hosted undefeated Golden Valley High with its Central California Conference title hopes on the line. Across campus the Temptations were soothing listeners with their music but there was nothing soothing about what was happening on the basketball court. The Bulldogs came out determined to avenge their sole league loss at the hands of the Cougars and for most of the game ...

Bulldogs push past Pride

It happens nearly every time they step on the same court. Chalk it up to in-town competitiveness or familiarity with each other, the fact is when Turlock and Pitman High clash it's going to be exciting and it's going to be close. Wednesday night was no exception when the Bulldogs (4-1 CCC) hosted the Pride (0-5 CCC) in the season's first crosstown matchup and the end of the first round of Central ...

Turlock wrestling notches 7th win

Turlock High wrestling improved to 3-0 in the Central California Conference this week with dual wins over Merced High in Tuesday and Buhach Colony High on Wednesday. The Bulldogs defeated the Bears by winning 10 of the night's 14 matches and put down the Thunder by winning 12 of 15 matches. Wednesday's victory over the Thunder marks Turlock's seventh consecutive dual win this season Turlock's conference victories come only days after it ...

Pitman football bids farewell to head coach

Brandon Harris is a Pitman High original. When the school opened in August 2002 he was there, ready to serve as the offensive coordinator of Turlock's newest football program. During that time he helped lead the Pride to back-to-back Central California Conference championships in their first two years in the league. In 2006 he took over as head coach and continued a tradition of success; going 53-23, completing seven winning seasons, and making ...

Pitman puts finishing touches on Turlock

Pitman High opened Tuesday's game against rival Turlock High with a Britney Leon trey- an early sign of things to come. The Pride (3-2 CCC) and Bulldogs (1-4 CCC) fought it out on Pitman's home court in the first cross-town matchup of the season, each looking for a much needed win before the beginning of the second round of Central California Conference play. Though Turlock competed with heart, Pitman's size and strength proved ...

Denair snaps losing streak; earns first SAL win

Denair High's girls led Southern Athletic League rival Delhi High for the entire first half of Thursday's basketball game, but with one quarter left to play the situation seemed dire for the Coyotes. After struggling to contain Denair's offense, the Hawks closed the gap on the Coyotes and pulled away with a 13 point lead. The pressure was on, but Denair responded. With seconds left on the clock the Coyotes fought back and ...

Third quarter surge dooms Hilmar hoopsters