By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Bulldogs take down Pride in first meeting
turlock girls basketball
Turlock High’s Jaydon Williams finished Tuesday night’s crosstown rivalry game with a game-high 25 points as the Bulldogs defeated the Pride of Pitman, 55-46 (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

Tuesday’s first league meeting of the Pitman and Turlock High varsity girls basketball teams was crucial, with the league standings on the line.

Turlock High’s Jaydon Williams led all scorers with a game-high 25 points and her teammate Sofia Andres added 11 points while the Bulldogs forced over 20 turnovers and won their fourth game out of the last five with a 55-46 final.

“We worked hard on our defense and we did really well; we worked hard the last few days at practice and it showed today,” said Turlock head coach John Williams. “We went maybe six minutes without scoring then we missed shots and started making some; not too bad of a showing. We can keep it up — that is the plan for the remainder of league.”

pitman girls basketball 1
Pitman’s Jessica Smith finished Tuesday’s game with a team-high 18 points in their 55-46 loss to Turlock (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

“I told them if we are tied for first place halfway through league, we will take it and we are tied for first place,” said Pitman head coach Dustin Curtiss. “Now we don’t care about anyone but Enochs. We got them the first time and they finished hard and it will be a tough contest for us… you can’t worry about the game because it is over and look at the next challenge.”

Pitman and Turlock are now tied for first in the CCAL with a 4-1 record.

The game was a battle from the start. After six minutes, Pitman led 3-2.  By the end of the first quarter, Pitman was up 7-6.

“It is a crosstown rivalry so you never know how these games will go, it is never guaranteed,” said Williams.

Turlock pulled away and led by as many as five at the half, taking a 23-18 lead going into the locker room.

Turlock outscored Pitman 15-13 to take a 38-31 lead heading into the fourth.

The Pride cut the deficit to just three with 7:35 left in the game that saw the score read 38-35.

Once that happened, Turlock went on to outscore Pitman for the remainder of the fourth.

Pitman’s Jessica Smith finished with a team-high 18 points, scoring 16 in the second half.

“Played well, but the turnovers that lead to lay-ups are killers, that is a four-point turnaround,” said Curtiss.

Four of the last five games are on the road for Pitman.

Turlock is slated to finish off the year playing four home games.

Pitman will next take on Enochs on the road at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

Turlock’s next game will be at home against Downey at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.