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Bulldogs avoid upset in prestigious tournament
Turlock moves forward in consolations after late-game FTs
Turlock boys pic2
Turlock High’s Anthony Hubbard, right, tries to drive past a Ripon High defender on Tuesday afternoon. Hubbard scored 28 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 65-55 win. - photo by CHHUN SUN / The Journal

SALIDA — The home locker room is a few feet away from the main floor of the basketball gym, far enough to keep outsiders from hearing what goes on inside. That’s a good thing for coach Doug Cornfoot and his Turlock boys basketball team.

The Bulldogs avoided a late-game collapse in a 65-55 win over a pesky Ripon High team on Tuesday afternoon in the consolation round of the 11th annual Modesto Christian High Holiday Hoop Classic, an event that attracts some of the country’s best talents.

“I let them have it,” Cornfoot said just outside of his team’s locker room. “There’s probably a couple kids in there crying.”

He then explained his postgame speech by saying, “They could play so much better.”

After falling behind by double digits early in the fourth quarter, the smaller Ripon team pulled within 53-50 with 2 minutes left in the game. But the Bulldogs stayed composed, nailing 10 of their last 12 free throws.

Senior guard Anthony Hubbard exploded for 16 of his 28 points in the third quarter, as Turlock teammates Ashton Richardson (16 points), Alek Carlson (10 points) and DaShawn Holcombe (eight points) all contributed.

The Bulldogs are now 1-1 in the elusive tournament; a run that includes a 70-52 loss to Morningside High of Inglewood in Monday’s opening round game. They will continue play in the consolations against Norte Dame of Sherman Oaks at 1 p.m. today.

To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.