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Turlock falls to Woodcreek in first round
Turlock basketball
Jada Washington of Turlock High goes into the paint during Tuesdays 66-57 loss to Woodcreek in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs. - photo by EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal

The winter season came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night for the No. 8 Turlock High varsity girls basketball team after they hosted No. 9 Woodcreek in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I tournament.

Turlock still made a push despite missing the Central California Conferences’ Most Valuable Player in Jaydon Williams to an ACL tear.

The Bulldogs trailed by two after the first quarter, but then the buckets and free throws made were limited and, in the end, it cost them a 66-57 loss.

“So, we are a team and somebody has to pick up the slack, Jaydon is important and she is the league MVP again this year, but we are a team and people had to step up and we just didn’t have it,” said Turlock head coach Mark Musselman. “Free throws and lay-ups, that was the game.”

Woodcreek extended their lead to 10 in the second quarter once sophomore Abbey Moore drained a three as time expired for the Timberwolves.

Woodcreek led 40-30 at halftime after outscoring Turlock in the second quarter, 23-15.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the third quarter but Woodcreek still had the upper hand, 52-41.

Despite Turlock’s Sofia Andres’ game-high 24 points, the ‘Dogs were still limited to just five scorers for the entire game. Sarah Musselman and MacKenzie Ussery added 10 points apiece for the game.

Turlock was also struggling from the line after they missed 10 free throws to Woodcreek’s two free throw misses.

Woodcreek led Turlock by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter with just under three minutes remaining.

Turlock continued to battle as best they could, outscoring Woodcreek in the final three minutes, 11-3, despite losing by nine.

“I thought we should have beat them. It came down to free throws and layups, they made theirs and we did not and that is what it was,” said Musselman.

The Bulldogs close out the year having lost back-to-back games for the third time this season.

They finished their final season in the CCC winning the title outright with an 11-1 record.

Their overall record goes to 21-6 in their final year that they will compete in the CCC and coach Musselman is happy.

“We had a good season, last year in the CCC and we won the title, it’s all good, we are moving on to the CCAL now,” said Musselman about moving to the Central California Athletic League.

Turlock will compete in the CCAL next season with Gregori, Downey, Modesto, Enochs and Pitman.