The Pitman High girls basketball team created a two-way tie for first place on Tuesday night with a 47-44 victory over Buhach Colony. The Pride (10-4 CCC) and Thunder (10-4 CCC) now sit side by side at the number one position in the CCC.

The back and forth matchup between Buhach and Pitman was decided in the last second of the game. With 40 seconds on the clock the Pride found themselves trailing by five points. A couple of free throws and a layup tied the contest and gave the Thunder the ball as the time slipped off the clock. Buhach lost control of the ball, however, giving Pitman the final possession and a chance to win. With the pressure of the season bearing down on her, freshman Cady Riley hit a three-point shot at the buzzer for the win.

Turlock High’s game was also closely contested but the Bulldogs (9-5 CCC) failed to pull out the win against Golden Valley High on Tuesday. The Cougars took advantage of a poor shooting performance by Turlock to take a 38-34 victory.

Even though Turlock’s offense was cold the two teams entered halftime tied 17-17. The Bulldogs lacked intensity in the second half though as their defense struggled to contain Golden Valley. As the end of the game neared Turlock made a slight comeback, cutting the Cougar lead substantially but there was not enough time on the clock for Turlock to come out on top.

Pitman’s victory and Turlock’s loss adds more drama to Thursday’s matchup between the two teams. With a win the Pride, who beat Buhach twice this season, will become CCC champions. Turlock on the other hand is out of title contention but a win would be a great way to end its season on senior night at home.

Eagles back on top; Coyotes still in playoff hunt

Turlock Christian High was back in winning form on Monday after suffering its first league loss last week to Ripon Christian High. The Eagles (12-1 Southern) hosted Mariposa High’s Grizzlies (9-4 Southern) in a 41-36 victory.

Despite the absence of Halie Bergman, the Eagles managed to outscore Mariposa 22-16 by halftime. TC’s offense was led by Natalie Snyder with 21 points and its defense was once again anchored by Rebekah Muller who recorded nine rebounds, eight steals and four blocks. Mariposa outscored TC in the fourth quarter but the effort was too little too late.

The Eagles will host Waterford High on Thursday where a win will guarantee them a piece of the Southern League Title. Ripon Christian (12-1 Southern) will likely be the co-champions if they also come away with a victory on Thursday.

Denair High’s girls entered Monday’s matchup with Gustine High with the understanding that a loss would eliminate the team from playoff contention. The Coyotes (7-6 Southern), still hampered with sick players, kept their dreams alive with a 30-16 win over the Redskins (2-11 Southern), leaving Delhi High as their only remaining obstacle before the season is through.

Denair’s shooting was cold on Monday, primarily because team leader Chelsea Wooten was one of the sick Coyotes. Fortunately for Denair, Gustine’s shooting game wasn’t at its best either. At halftime the score was a low 12-10 in Denair’s favor.

The Coyotes picked up pace in the second half, scoring nine points in both the third and fourth quarters while holding Gustine to a scoreless third quarter and only six points in the fourth. Despite feeling ill Wooten led the team with fifteen points on the night. Denair’s next game is a must win against Delhi High school during Denair’s senior night. A win over the Hawks would surely result in a playoff berth.

The girls of Hilmar High wrapped their season up on Monday with a disappointing 64-35 loss to rival Escalon High. The Yellowjackets (4-8 TVL) showcased their worst shooting performance of the year and were outscored in each quarter by the Cougars (3-8 TVL).

As it has been all season size was a huge issue with Hilmar who struggled under the boards with rebounds. The ‘Jackets’ year looked promising after they won nine of their first 10 games but when league play began Hilmar dropped their first four games. Hilmar now looks forward to next season where a sophomore class is expected to add much needed size and depth to the team that is only graduating three players.