Turlock High snapped a three game losing streak on Tuesday with a victory over Golden Valley High in the Central California Conference opener. The Bulldogs (1-0 CCC) trailed for most of the first half, but a second half comeback effort made it 49-45 by the end of regulation.

“Team basketball is what I saw today,” Turlock’s head coach Michelle Bush said. “Everybody was supporting one another and talking; all the things we’re looking for.”

Though Turlock played from behind in the first half, its girls were never too far away from the Cougars (0-1 CCC). During the half the Bulldogs made an adjustment and switched to a 2-3 defense in order to keep Golden Valley players covered. The strategy worked, forcing Golden Valley to score from the perimeter which proved to be a difficult task for the Cougars.

“We saw that we weren’t doing a good job staying with our man so we switched up to a 2-3,” Bush said. “Our 2-3 is relentless.”

Turlock also increased its ball movement and opened up scoring lanes for the likes of senior Cierra Peace and freshman McKayla Mabie. With Peace and Mabie firing on all cylinders, the Bulldogs took their first lead of the night early in the fourth quarter and extended it by as much as seven points in the final minutes. Mabie, who was moved up to varsity during the Tracy Tournament over Christmas break, finished the night with 19 points while Peace finished with 12 points.

“Hands down, she’s one of the most tenacious basketball players out there,” Bush said of Mabie. “Her overall basketball knowledge and fundamentals are so solid.”

Turlock’s next CCC test will come Thursday when it hosts Buhach Colony High at 7:30 p.m.