Oakdale High’s varsity girls basketball team showed some signs of life after a 16-15 lead over playoff-bound Sonora on Thursday, but a nine point halftime deficit led to a three-point third quarter swing and a tough 16-4 Sonora rally in the final period for a 58-34 Lady Mustang loss in the season finale.

Lathrop’s 44-39 home win over the Mustangs on Feb. 15 was in the midst of a six-game losing skid for an Oakdale team pillaged by injuries this year.

Oakdale went 5-4 in preseason play, but floundered in the ultra-tough Valley Oak League, only winning games over Kimball (1-26).

The VOL produced five postseason teams, including three with home court advantage when the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs tipped off on Tuesday.

Manteca (No. 5), East Union (No. 7), Weston Ranch (No. 8), Sonora (No. 11) and Sierra (No. 16) all made the postseason cut. The top eight teams hosted games.

Junior Varsity

Oakdale dropped a 28-25 loss to Lathrop, despite 10 points and five steals from Hanna Holland, in the final week of league play for the JV girls. Francesca Orvis chipped in nine points, five rebounds and four steals.

On Thursday, the team fell in 56-42 fashion to Sonora after five big three-pointers and an incredible 25-point effort from Sommer Anderson. Janeth Garcia added six points and four rebounds while Orvis had another solid night on the court with five points, six rebounds and three steals.

Oakdale ended at 3-11 in the VOL.

“I am very proud of their improvement and am very excited to watch them and all the other girls continue playing basketball,” Oakdale coach Heather Brown said.

Brown highlighted some sharp play from freshman point guard, Holland, who ended the year with 25 steals, 41 rebounds and 45 points. She also mentioned the tough all-around efforts from Orvis, who totaled 98 rebounds, 43 steals and 96 points this year.

Mackenzie Ruthman and Janeth Garcia may not have led Oakdale in minutes played, but filled important roles at the JV level as the season progressed.