The annual Foundation Games are a tradition within the Sac-Joaquin Section at the start of the volleyball and basketball seasons. Proceeds from the games provide scholarships for scholar-athletes from throughout the Sac-Joaquin Section and the games do not count against a team’s overall record. This year, the Oakdale Mustangs played the Foundation Games on Monday, Nov. 29, against the Amos Alonzo Stagg Delta Kings from Stockton, with the girls losing by one basket at the ending buzzer and the boys picking up a substantial win.
In the girls’ game, the Mustangs, under first year coach Kelly Nasrawi, got out to a strong start behind seniors Savannah Borba and Aidyn Hill and junior Elizabeth Webb and took a 26-19 halftime lead. In the second half, the Lady Mustangs started strong but then faded in the fourth quarter, unable to overcome a blanketing all-court press by the Delta Kings, and succumbed 48-46. Stagg sophomore Jameelah Pharms got 15 of her game-high 22 points in the second half, mostly on the strength of steals, lay-ins, and free throws. The Mustangs were hurt when 6-3 freshman Samantha Powell dislocated her knee cap scrambling for a loose ball and being forced to leave the game.
Scoring: Savannah Borba 11; Elizabeth Webb 9; Brooke Wheat 8; Anika Garrett 8; Aidyn Hill 6; Samantha Powell 4.
Three pointers: 1 (Webb)
Total fouls: Stagg: 19; Oakdale: 18
In the boys’ game, the Mustangs used a swarming defense in the second half to defeat the Delta Kings by the score of 52-35. Head Coach Ryan Berg used his entire entourage of players during the game and got the most from those players, four of whom had been part of the Mustang varsity football team just a few days before the game. Senior Landon Nunes led all scorers in the game with 16 points, including a pair of three-point buckets, while fellow senior Johnathan Kraude chipped in 14 points, including two three-pointers. Seniors Nate Criswell and Jacob Guignard, the latter just joining the team on Monday following the Mustang football season, played tough under the boards, while senior Jake Kettering, junior Niko Klose, and sophomores Jayden Coelho and Carlo Antinetti contributed key minutes on both sides of the ball.
Scoring: Landon Nunes 16; Johnathan Kraude 14; Nate Criswell 9; Charles Cripe 5; Jacob Guignard 4; Jayden Coelho 3; Jake Kettering 1.
Three Pointers: 5 (Nunes (2), Kraude (2), Cripe)
Total fouls: Stagg: 17; Oakdale: 17
Also this season, the varsity boys have taken a 40-38 win over Ripon on Dec. 2 and a 52-43 victory over Lodi in tournament action on Dec. 3, while falling 68-48 to Sonora in Saturday tournament play, Dec. 4. They also lost to Calaveras, 48-40, on Nov. 27 and at Sonora, 67-33, on Nov. 30 to open the season with a 2-3 mark.
Ladies Defeat Tokay
The Oakdale Mustangs lady hoopsters came back after the Foundation Game and defeated the Tokay Tigers from Lodi 45-21 on Dec. 1 in the Mustang Arena. The Mustangs used a stingy defense, some tough play under the boards, and slick shooting to storm to a 22-6 halftime lead. Borba set a positive tone for the evening by hitting two three point shots in the opening stanza as the Mustangs held the Tigers to just one field goal. Freshman Anika Garrett was highly effective inside, aided by a swarming defense that caused several interceptions, takeaways, and turnovers. Coming off the bench, Hill hit two three-point shots, one in each half, and finished with a game high 14 points, followed by Borba’s 12. Senior Victoria Cadwell and Garrett added seven points apiece in the Lady Mustang victory. The next home game will be on Thursday, Dec. 9 against the Thunder of Buhach Colony High School.
Scoring: Aidyn Hill 14; Savannah Borba 12; Anika Garrett 7; Victoria Cadwell 7; Brooke Wheat 3; Brooklyn Gonzalez 2.
Total fouls 10; Fouled out: none
Three pointers 43 (Borba 2; Hill 2)
