In their lone action this past week, Oakdale’s basketball boys hosted Atwater on Monday, Dec. 12.
The varsity squad was coming off an eight-point road win over Summerville just days before. However, the boys could not maintain the momentum in the home game and fell 49-35 to the visiting Falcons. The Mustangs fell behind 15-8 after the first quarter and could not find a way back in the game. Leading the way for Oakdale were Blake Whiting and Andrew Munoz who each scored 10 points in the loss.
Oakdale is now 1-3 heading into their annual 47th annual Oakdale Rotary Classic. The winter break tournament tips off today, Wednesday, Dec. 21 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Oakdale High School. There will be eight teams competing in the three-day holiday classic as Oakdale welcomes in Downey, Hughson, Los Banos, Ripon Christian, Davis, Pitman and Johansen to take part in the tournament. Oakdale will take on Johansen on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. for their first game.
A recently enacted tradition continues, as for the second consecutive season, opening night will be Flannel Night.
“We want to keep the tradition going while showing our support for the hard working ‘blue collar’ Oakdale community,” varsity coach Hondo Arpoika said.
Thursday’s action is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start and the final game will be played at 8 p.m.
Friday’s finals will start at 5 p.m. for consolation and the championship round will be held at 8 p.m. Following the tournament Oakdale will host Merced in a game that was rescheduled from this past Saturday, and that game has been rescheduled for New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. No time has been released for that game.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The junior varsity boys fell 46-28 to Atwater on Monday night, Dec. 12 in their only action of the week. Falling behind 14-2 after the first quarter, the young team could not regroup. Oakdale’s struggles showed as the team shot 18 percent from inside the arc and 22 percent from beyond the arc. The team’s highlights include 10 points from John Foreman and a dozen rebounds by Sam Medlin. Oakdale’s JV boys are also scheduled to play in will host the 47th annual Oakdale Rotary Classic. JV teams scheduled to compete, along with Oakdale, include Los Banos, Downey, Ripon Christian, Davis, Pitman, Hughson and Weston Ranch. Oakdale takes on Los Banos on Wednesday, Dec. 21 with tipoff scheduled for 11 a.m. Day two action begins at 9:30 a.m. and the finals are set for 2 p.m. on Friday.
FRESHMEN
The youngest of the Mustang hoopsters prevailed 52-32 over Atwater on Monday evening. Michael Echavarria recorded a near triple-double with 17 points, 14 steals and seven assists for Oakdale. The freshmen will travel to Davis to take part in a three day tournament there beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 26 and concluding on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Oakdale will return home on Friday, Dec. 30 against Tracy.
