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Magical season ends for Mustang basketball boys
BB beau
Junior Beau Kesterson looks for a way to drive past the Beyer defender in a road game on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Mustang varsity boys fell to the host Patriots in the opening round of the Division 3 playoffs. Photo By Jeff Kettering

A memorable season to say the least. The Oakdale High School varsity boys basketball team made it to the postseason, but bowed out in a road game in the opening round.

Oakdale was the number 10 seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 tournament. The Mustangs took on host Beyer, the number seven seed, in the opening round on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and lost 56-43.

Oakdale scored first on a Griffin Galuppi layup on an assist from Beau Kesterson with 7:01 to play in the opening frame. Over the next several minutes, Beyer went on a 9-0 run forcing a timeout by Oakdale. Galuppi broke up the run when he made a layup with 2:16 to play in the first quarter. Oakdale trailed 15-4 to end the first quarter. Galuppi scored the first 11 points for Oakdale but the Mustangs found themselves in a 23-11 hole with 5:18 remaining in the first half. Galuppi finished the first half with 13 points and seven rebounds. Gavin Wyatt connected on a deep three point shot to make it 23-14 with 4:22 to play in the half. The Mustangs’ run continued when Brody Jones pulled down an offensive rebound and putback to make it 23-16 with 2:13 to play in the half. The freshman was one of several call ups from the junior varsity team. Jones finished with two points and two rebounds. Oakdale trailed 27-19 at halftime.

The third quarter opened up with a Beyer 9-0 run to go up 36-19. Donavyn Hernandez stopped the run with his corner three-point field goal with 4:38 remaining in the third. Wyatt made a long distance three from the top of the arc to make it a 41-27 game with 3:09 to play in the third. Oakdale trailed 48-30 at the end of the third quarter.

Wyatt continued his success from long distance as he hit a three-point shot to trail 48-37 with 4:46 remaining in the game. A Kesterson steal and layup with 3:27 made it a 52-39 game. Niki Jones scored the final points of the game for Oakdale when he hit a three-point shot with 46.6 seconds to play. Jones finished the game with 11 points and nine rebounds.

With the loss, Oakdale ended its season but it was a very successful campaign, as they went 7-5 in Valley Oak League action and compiled a 22-7 overall record.