Notebook: Modesto Christian hoops ranked No. 8 in final state poll

The Modesto Christian boys basketball team (32-2) finished the season No. 8 in Cal-Hi Sports’ expanded state rankings.

The Crusaders won the Sac-Joaquin Section Open Division championship and earned a No. 2 seed in the CIF Northern California Open Division regional tournament.

For the second straight year, Modesto Christian advanced to the final, and for the second straight year, fell painfully short of a state final berth. The Crusaders started slowly against top-seeded De La Salle, which staved off a second-half charge and won on a traditional three-point play in the final seconds.

The loss was Modesto Christian’s first since a season-opening defeat to No. 12 Folsom on Thanksgiving Day weekend. The Crusaders won 32 consecutive games, a streak that included Holiday Hoop Classic and Modesto Metro Conference titles.

Modesto Christian would have climbed higher in the rankings throughout the season if not for a weak conference schedule.

Manteca (29-6) leapfrogged Valley Oak League rival Weston Ranch (27-5) in the top-40 rankings. The No. 29 Buffaloes were beaten three times by No. 30 Weston Ranch, the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champion. However, Cal-Hi Sports editors gave Manteca the nod because of its Division III state championship.

The Buffaloes had to beat Bishop O’Dowd in the Northern California regional final. The Dragons earned their way into that game by beating Weston Ranch in South Stockton.

“There are some who would still rank the Buffaloes behind Valley Oak League rival Weston Ranch because, after al,l they didn’t win a game against the Cougars in three tries,” wrote Cal-Hi Sports editor Mark Tennis. “In recent years, however, we have gone by what we call the hardware rule, and that’s to rank the team highest that raised the hardware after the final game.”

Worth noting: Six of the top-40 teams competed at the Holiday Hoop Classic, including Long Beach Poly (26), Manteca (29), Weston Ranch (30), Salesian Collegiate Preparatory (31) and Immanuel (35). Poly reached the final, where it was beaten soundly by Modesto Christian.

VOL foes to clash in top bracket at NorCal Classic: Softball enthusiasts won’t have to wait until the final week of the Valley Oak League season to see East Union tangle with longtime nemesis Oakdale.

The two will square off in the semifinal round of the Platinum bracket at the NorCal Classic on Saturday at The Ball Park in Tracy. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.

East Union is the defending VOL and Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champion and returns Pacific-bound slugger Sam Owen and reigning VOL Pitcher of the Year Delaney Pamplin.

The Lancers will be without junior outfielder/pitcher Alexis Erich the rest of the season. The versatile talent hit .644 last season, but she tore her ACL participating in the school’s Powder Puff game.

“East Union is a tough opponent,” Oakdale coach Larry Loger said. “They’re very good.”

Oakdale features seven players committed to four-year universities, including a program-record four Division I signees: twins Kindra and Maddi Hackbarth, four-year varsity starters headed to Fresno State; Haley Fuller, also Fresno State; and Scarlett Brock, Southern.

What the Mustangs lack, though, is the mystique that belongs to the Lancers, who were named the mythical Division III state champion by Cal-Hi Sports following their 30-3 campaign.

East Union, with a season-long 10-game winning streak, remains in the Cal-Hi spotlight.

The Lancers are ranked No. 10 in the latest poll, while the Mustangs – also unbeaten at 8-0 and ranked ahead of East Union in MaxPreps’ computer-generated list – have yet to earn an honorable mention.

The two juggernauts have combined to win 10 of the last 11 VOL championships and five of the last seven section banners.

“The girls know what red, white and blue mean,” Loger said. “We say it at practice. It’s an ongoing joke everyday. ‘Go do this for the red, white and blue. Go dive and run into the fence.’ I don’t have to tell them. They already know.”

Los Banos wins Windemuth title: Los Banos won the 47th annual Dick Windemuth Easter Tournament with a 6-0 victory over Bradshaw Christian on Thursday evening.

The Tigers scored six runs in the sixth inning to back a four-hit complete game by Tomas Beebe. Vinny Greco had the big knock in the sixth-inning rally, shooting a two-run double into the gap. Vince Alvarez and Julian Arrechavala also had RBI singles in the breakout frame.

The Tigers (9-2, 2-0) went 4-0 in tournament play, including a win over Western Athletic Conference rival Patterson, and will take that momentum into a pivotal series with El Capitan next week. With a seasoned roster and pitching depth, the Gauchos are another contender in the WAC.

Tweetables: Modesto Christian’s Robinson Idehen says he’s entertaining several offers, including one from Nevada. The Wolf Pack have already signed Manteca 6-foot-9 forward Kenny Wooten. … The Manteca boys basketball team appeared on “Good Day Sacramento” on Friday morning. … The Central Catholic girls soccer team (7-1-1, 3-0-1) has won three straight and remains unbeaten in VOL play heading into Monday’s showdown with two-time defending league and D-III champion East Union (8-2, 2-1). The game will be played under the lights at Central Catholic at 6:30. … The Modesto Metro Conference baseball season returns with a bang: Beyer (6-0) and Enochs (6-0), neighbors along Sylvan Avenue and atop the standings, will open a three-game set Monday at Enochs. First pitch is 3:45 p.m.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Notebook: Modesto Christian hoops ranked No. 8 in final state poll."