Enochs girls confident they can upset Modesto Christian in MMC basketball

The Modesto Christian High School girls basketball team has won 24 consecutive Modesto Metro Conference games since joining the fray in 2014, suggesting an aura of invincibility.

But why, then, is Enochs circling the perennial Sac-Joaquin Section title contender?

Enochs (15-8, 8-2 MMC) will host the Crusaders (16-5, 10-0) on Thursday evening, looking to finish a hunt it started three weeks ago.

While this matchup lacks title implication, there’s still plenty at stake. Both teams boast impressive winning streaks, a need for speed and rosters intimately aware of one another.

Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. However, the gamesmanship has begun.

“We’re confident going in,” Enochs coach Curtis Reynolds said after a 61-42 victory over Downey on Tuesday evening. “They’ll be ready for us, but I think they know we can match up with them. We love a fast-paced game. We’ve seen their trap many times, and their trap doesn’t scare us. This is why we played tough competition early in the season.”

Enochs pushed the Crusaders to the brink of defeat Jan. 12 before fading in the final minutes 49-39. The score was tied midway through the fourth quarter when things went sideways on the upset-minded Eagles; two starters fouled out, and Crusaders guard Rachel Smith saved the day with 24 points, nearly half the team’s production.

Afterward, though, it was hard to tell who won or lost.

Modesto Christian coach Robb Spencer punished his team for its lackadaisical play, dialing up a practice of endless sprints.

A few miles away, Enochs found confidence in a close defeat and has used the positives to seed a seven-game tear. Enochs has won five of the seven by 19 or more points and began the week still tingling from a 57-56 victory over Sylvan Avenue rival Beyer.

On Tuesday, the Eagles torched Downey’s zone for seven three-pointers. Zakiya Williams scored a game-high 21 points and Katie Dillon had 19. Dillon is averaging 21.6 points in her last three games.

Sierra Wilson netted 17 for the Knights, who can point to a slow start and cold finish as the differences. Enochs made 10 of its 11 free-throw attempts and outscored Downey 18-11 in the fourth quarter.

“Our start and our constant pressure on defense created a lot of turnovers, and we sped the game up to our speed,” Reynolds said. “We don’t want to play (Downey’s) speed, which is slower and more methodical.”

Reynolds believes his Eagles can impose their will on the Crusaders, too.

“Our girls are convinced they can win. Our girls have played their girls for years in AAU. They know each other by name off the court,” Reynolds said. “There isn’t an intimidation factor like there has been in the past. We’re probably the only team that isn’t intimidated anymore. That atmosphere changed after last year because they’ve grown up playing each other.”

The Eagles were slowed at the start of the season by a flu bug that tore through the locker room and a merciless schedule. Enochs was defeated by Valley Oak League front-runner East Union (22-1), Delta League challenger Elk Grove (15-7) and Central Section stalwart Clovis (16-9) en route to an 8-8 mark.

The results have favored Enochs as its health has improved. Reynolds expects to use a seven- or eight-person rotation against the Crusaders.

“We’re playing better than we were in the first round (of the MMC). We’re moving the basketball better than we have been, and everybody is healthy now,” he said. “ ... We’re all healthy now, and the starters especially are feeling good.”

So, game on.

Modesto Christian can clinch a share of its second consecutive MMC crown with a victory and its 16th title overall. The Crusaders have won 136 of their last 137 league games, dating to the 2005 season and their time in the Southern and Trans-Valley leagues. At one point, the Crusaders won 98 consecutive league games, a run that began in 2005 and culminated with a loss to Ripon during the 2012-13 season.

Reynolds insists his team isn’t fazed by the résumé or reputation. The Eagles are circling the sky above the MMC, stalking big-game prey.

“We’ve added wrinkles on offense and wrinkles on defense that hopefully other coaches haven’t seen since last year,” Reynolds said. “We have a different press. We like to keep it interesting in the final round.”

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Enochs girls confident they can upset Modesto Christian in MMC basketball."