The Turlock Christian boys basketball team nabbed back-to-back wins against a struggling Gustine High, which has yet to win a game this season.
The Eagles hosted the winless Redskins in a Southern Athletic League contest on Thursday night in what started off close in the first half, but a second half resurgence by the Eagles proved too much as they pulled away with an 81-63 victory.
“Even though Gustine hasn’t had a win this year, they've been in every game; they have been close with their good shooters. Nothing to take away from them, our team just came out ready to play,” Turlock Christian head coach Eddie Sai said.
With the win, TC has pulled away with seven league victories thus far (7-2, SAL) and solidified its third place spot, just behind Ripon Christian, before the two teams meet in a critical matchup next week.
“We need Ripon Christian to lose and we can have a three way tie for the title; it’s what were hoping for,” Sai said.
Thursday's game was tied after the first quarter at 14 each, but by the end of the first half, a four point lead was enough to get the momentum going for Turlock Christian.
A 46-32 run in the second half proved to be enough for the Eagles who had five players score 11 points or better with Egan Farrar topping out with a team-high 17.
“Egan [Farrar] has really stepped up shooting the ball besides all the others; it’s a team concept and we've really got some good things going on for us,” Sai said.
As a team, the Eagles were able to shoot 48 percent from the field, while knocking down seven three pointers.
Senior Josh Wright was able to notch a double-double amassing 11 points, 10 assists, six steals and also four boards. Brady Turner just missed another double-double totaling 15 points with nine boards for the game.
“It’s been a team, not one star, these guys play together and unselfish, they are learning and playing with the system and we're just seeing how well we can finish,” Sai said. “It was sort of like a train when it gets going, the guys were peaking at the right time.”
League play will resume for the Eagles, who have a tough matchup against the current second place team in Ripon Christian, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
