Despite rough nonleague start, Turlock boys sit atop CCC standings

As the losses mounted, Doug Cornfoot did his best to keep the locker room together, to keep the players’ focus on the ultimate goals.

But, boy, it was tough to talk about a conference championship and Sac-Joaquin Section postseason berth when, on a nightly basis, the scoreboard refused to cooperate.

The Turlock boys basketball team lost 16 of its first 17 games, easily the worst start in Cornfoot’s 13 years as a varsity head coach at Turlock and Delhi.

“It was a frustrating time. We had five or six games where we lost by five points or less, so we were in some games,” he said. “We told the guys to keep working, forget about the scores and the losses, just keep working to get better. If they trust us, when it comes time for league, we’ll be ready.”

Look at them now.

The battle-hardened Bulldogs (5-16) have won four consecutive games to start Central California Conference play, including three in a row in Merced County.

On Wednesday, Ricky Heidelbach poured in 22 points for Turlock, which overcame a rocky offensive performance to escape Golden Valley with a 50-34 victory.

Turlock returns home Friday for a high-stakes matchup, which few saw coming, against a city rival. The Bulldogs are joined atop the standings by Pitman (11-6), also 4-0.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

“Anytime it’s Turlock and Pitman, it’s exciting. The kids get up for it,” Cornfoot said. “I expect it to be standing-room only. It’s a matter of being excited, but we don’t want to be bouncing-off-the-walls excited. Keep your focus, and be ready to play.

“The winner has a leg up (in the standings), but it’s not the end of the world (for the loser).”

Turlock has unusual perspective on the magnitude of wins and losses. Few teams in the Stanislaus District have experienced such dramatic highs and lows.

Cornfoot knew his team would struggle at the start of the season. The Bulldogs were tasked with a no-holds-barred schedule that included four games at the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic, and they were without their best player for the first month.

“Our goal is always to win league, and our second goal is to make the playoffs,” Cornfoot said. “My whole philosophy is to get ready for league. We want to play teams that will make you better, and if you’re good enough to make the playoffs, then you’re ready to play the elite teams in the playoffs. You’re used to the size and speed and all of that.”

Point guard Oscar Moreno has been the catalyst.

The 5-foot-10 senior had to sit the first 30 days of the season, per the Sac-Joaquin Section’s transfer rule. Moreno is a foreign exchange student from Puebla, Mexico, who followed his friend and Bulldogs forward Habib Velasquez to Turlock.

“It was a big sacrifice, but sometimes you have to do it. It was hard leaving my family and friends,” Moreno said, but “it was a great opportunity.”

Moreno has played basketball since he was 11. He won a national championship with Itesm Puebla, a private high school in Mexico.

“Habib told him about playing high school basketball out here, and Oscar wanted to play out here and see what his opportunities were with going to college and playing,” said Cornfoot, who has been in contact with community college coaches and plans to send video to universities. “He fits in at this school. He’s a straight-A student.

“It was eating him up sitting and watching for 30 days, but he was that player in the gym working on his fundamental skills. He made sure he was ready when it was his time.”

Moreno has a cool demeanor on the floor, Cornfoot said, and his ability to get into the lane has opened up shooting windows for Heidelbach (8.5 points), Velasquez (13.1 points) and the others.

“I play for my teammates and try to do whatever it takes to get a win,” Moreno said. “It could be defense or assists ... whatever it takes.”

That sense of team, coupled with his talents on the ball, made Moreno a perfect candidate for point guard. His insertion into the starting lineup has allowed Cornfoot to play others in their natural spots.

“When Oscar became eligible, it put that piece into the puzzle that made things easier for us,” Cornfoot said. “He’s a guard that can handle ball and handle the pressure.”

When he was cleared, “it rotated all the other guys that were playing out of position back into their normal positions,” Cornfoot added. “Before, our 2 had to play point guard, our 3 had to play the 2, and so on. Now we don’t have to ask those guys for more than they’re capable of doing.”

Turlock has averaged more than 55 points per game during its four-game winning streak while limiting opponents to less than 41 per game. Three of the four games have been decided by double figures.

The Bulldogs averaged 46.6 points through their first 17 games.

Moreno leads Turlock in scoring (13.4 points), assists (4.2) and steals (2.6).

“Our tempo is much better. Our shot selection is much better. Just the organization of what we’re doing is much better,” Cornfoot said. “Five weeks ago ... we were more chaotic. Now we’re getting into a fluid motion on the court.”

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Despite rough nonleague start, Turlock boys sit atop CCC standings."