Injuries to numerous players left the varsity Lady Mustangs basketball team shorthanded in a trio of league games this past week. The squad was without Zoe Gillen and Maddy Brewer in a 38-26 home loss to Sierra on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Oakdale shook off the loss and answered with a 56-49 road win over Weston Ranch on Thursday, Feb. 2. Over the weekend the girls hosted Lathrop on Saturday but could not earn the home win as they fell 44-36 to the visiting Spartans.
The week began with the 12-point loss to the previously winless Timberwolves (3-20, 1-10) at home. Oakdale (13-11, 3-8) was without their starting center Zoe Gillen but the slack was picked up by freshman Angie Lowry who scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds for Oakdale. Sarah Bohrer and Grace Higle each scored eight points for Oakdale in the loss. Oakdale’s offense started off slow, as they were outscored 24-9 in the first half.
The road victory over Weston Ranch (8-13, 2-8) saw the return of Gillen who scored 15 points and added 13 rebounds to pace the team. Oakdale rallied from eight points down at the half to earn the road win. The Lady Mustangs cashed in on free throw opportunities as Gillen and Lowry combined for 16 of 24 from the line alone. Head Coach Julie Ford changed the starting lineup as she went with one freshman, three sophomores and a junior. Lowry scored a double-double with 23 points and 16 rebounds for Oakdale.
“We changed it up and the young girls played older than they are, they played like they had experience,” Ford said following the game.
Sophomore Bohrer scored 12 points including two three-pointers down the stretch to put it away. Oakdale also played tough defense down the stretch.
“Though it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, Grace Higle and Krissy Lolonis were extremely instrumental in the win with their defense on the other team’s leading scorer who was held to a quiet night, as well as directing the offense and taking care of the ball,” Ford said.
The Lady Mustangs hosted Kimball (18-6, 9-2) on Tuesday night following The Leader’s press time. Two games remain on the Lady Mustangs season as the girls battle Central Catholic (16-7, 7-4) on the road Thursday, Feb. 9 and will host first place Manteca (13-10, 10-1) on Tuesday, Feb. 14 for Senior Night 2017. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Three games, three wins for the junior varsity girls. Oakdale defeated Sierra 29-26 in a seesaw battle. The Lady Mustangs went into halftime up by one and held on to the victory. Center Carolyn Hamilton scored nine points and pulled down 13 rebounds and Hallie Morton added eight points and 15 rebounds. Oakdale defeated Weston Ranch on the road 48-33 on Thursday, Feb. 2 and nearly doubled up Lathrop 29-15 on Saturday. Oakdale is now 9-2 in league play.
FRESHMEN
In two games this week, Oakdale suffered a pair of difficult losses. Down 16-9 at the half against Sierra, the frosh girls’ second half rally fell short as they lost 34-30 to the Timberwolves. Jazmin Martinez scored 15 points for Oakdale and Courtney Kohlemans added eight points in the loss. Oakdale hit the road two days later and fell to Weston Ranch 47-18.
