Basketball

Facing one of California's elite programs, Modesto Christian High made just a few mistakes.

Erick Parsons (172), Turlock, Senior Parsons (27-3) went 2-0 and accounted for his team's only points against powerhouse Vacaville at last weekend's Sac-Joaquin Section team dual championships in Stockton.

Girls high school wrestling, a curiosity not long ago, continues to climb in popularity.

Escalon High, stunned by Trans-Valley League rival Ripon a few days before, had to get back on a winning track quickly to have a hope of preserving their playoff berth.

Joe MarquMarquez scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Buhach Colony boys basketball team defeated Golden Valley 61-51 on Wednesday night.

Basketball

In this week's edition of Stanislaus Basketball Weekly, the Bee's Richard T. Estrada talks to Riverbank shooting guard Kevin Veliz, and also makes predictions on which Stanislaus District boys and girls baketball teams will qualify for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Tiger Woods is back at Pebble Beach and so is the champion. The champion? That would be Bill Murray.

When Amgen Tour of California riders begin Stage 4 of the annual cycling race in Sonora, they'll be faced with the long, circuitous road ahead. But they won't have to deal with the treacherous incline of Old Priest Grade Road.

It's a fun time to be a Riverbank High basketball player, regardless of the team you're on. The Bruins' varsity is 20-2 with its only losses to potent Modesto Christian, and the JV's only league losses are to MC. The freshman team has lost just once all season.

Will Ward walked off the court after Tuesday night's 74-38 victory at Oakdale smiling, laughing and glad-handing his teammates as if he'd just gone off for a triple-double.

Merced's slow start in league did little to topple Tekerra Borden's confidence. Borden and the Bears continued their steady steady climb up the standings with a 39-28 win over Turlock on Tuesday night.

Great energy produced a great result for the Modesto Junior College men's basketball team. The Pirates defeated visiting Sacramento City 96-75, pulling away with 58 points in the second half. Austin Keaton scored 22 of his 28 points after halftime and led the team with 11 rebounds.

After three years of rivalry, this much is obvious: Modesto Christian is a kingpin among smaller schools, but the Crusaders have yet to achieve St. Mary's level.