WR erases 15-point deficit to winTRACY — Some call it rug burn.But in Brandon Silva’s case, his were something more along the lines of hardwood burns.Weston Ranch High’s senior guard was literally all over Swenson Gym in the second round of the Tracy Winter Holiday Classic on Wednesday night.Weston Ranch’s 5-foot, 10-inch defensive specialist was handed a tough assignment — which was shutting down Modesto High’s standout senior Sammy Yeager.It’s safe to say Silva’s task was completed, and that ultimately helped lift Weston Ranch to a 78-62 non-league victory against Modesto — the tournament’s defending champion.
“If I had a game ball to give, (Silva) would hands down be the winner of that one,” Weston Ranch’s head coach Bill Slikker said. “Our main priority was shutting down (Yeager), no question. When (Silva) is given a task like that, he thrives on it. In my opinion, he basically won that game for us.”Yeager scored 10 of his 20 total points in the first quarter alone, but foul trouble in the second forced him to sit the bench, which allowed the Cougars to spark a very significant second-quarter run.Silva opened up the second by scoring two of his 10 points. He also tallied six steals, grabbed two rebounds and dished out three assists.Weston Ranch trailed by 32-19 midway through the second quarter. The Cougars turned to their 6-foot-6 post man Jerrell Walker, who registered all 11 of his points during that period. Walker, who also had eight rebounds, scored seven consecutive points and helped cut the Cougars’ deficit to 32-21.After Modesto’s Matt Vermulen (13 points and two blocks) stretched the lead back out to 13, the Cougars closed out the first half with a 9-0 run, which made it a 34-30 contest going into halftime.
Weston Ranch senior standout Walter Jackson had 21 points and grabbed six rebounds. He also had six assists, two blocks and a pair of two-handed dunks.“We just came out with a lot of intensity and put it away,” Jackson said. “We knew we were losing by four (at the half), so we knew we had to come with intensity and finish the game off.”Weston Ranch outscored Modesto 46-28 during the second half. Weston Ranch standout James Nunnally tallied 20 of his 24 points in the second half alone.The Cougars closed the third quarter on a 10-2 run, which gave them a one-point advantage headed into the game’s final quarter. Nunnally, who also grabbed eight rebounds, recorded 12 third-quarter points.Silva tipped in a missed free throw toward the end of the third, and that gave the Cougars a lead for the first time all evening.
Weston Ranch (4-3) closed out the ball game by going on a 23-10 fourth-quarter run.Jackson and Nunnally combined for 16 points in the final quarter, and Weston Ranch tallied up the last 10 points of the game to take the Panthers out of it.“We were more athletic than (Modesto) from top to bottom,” Slikker added. “All we needed to do was play a little defense, and (Silva) gave us that spark.“I don’t know who scored what, and I don’t care.
Really, for us, when we get after it and play defense, we have a chance to win some games.”Nunnally recorded one of his six assists midway into the fourth. While the Cougars rotated the ball around the perimeter, Nunnally passed up an open look at a 3-ball and gave it up to Silva who was in the corner.Silva knocked down the three, and that stretched it to 64-58. Nunnally then scored the following four points.
Unselfish basketball.
Mic’eal Thomas was the fifth scorer for the Cougars. He finished with eight points, four rebounds, and had two steals with just as many assists.Modesto’s Nate Jackson scored 18 points.Weston Ranch will face Turlock (9-1) today at 7:30 p.m. at Swenson Gym for a ticket into the tournament final.SophomoreWeston Ranch’s Ronnie Collins registered a team-high 17 points Wednesday, which helped propel the Cougars to a 53-37 non-league victory.Collins also hauled in 11 rebounds, while Jashaun Stokes added 13 points and grabbed eight boards.Bear Creek cut its deficit to six in the third quarter, but Weston Ranch closed that period on a 10-0 run that ultimately put the Bruins away for good.FreshmanThe Cougars dropped Bear Creek on Wednesday, 49-27. Ray Poole finished with 16 points and seven assists. Deon Ely added 12 to the Cougars’ total.Isiah Losoya pitched in with six points and grabbed eight boards for Weston Ranch (4-3).It was an 18-16 contest at halftime, but the Cougars outscored the Bruins 10-2 in the third quarter and 21-9 in the fourth.The Cougars will play against Ripon Christian next Wednesday in the Block M Tournament.By JOHN-JOEL GRIFFITHS
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles/2006/12/21/sports/sports1.txt
Weston Ranch ousts 2005 champ Modesto
Tracy Press/Press staff report Thursday, 21 December 2006
The reigning Tracy Winter Holiday Classic champion was dethroned Wednesday in the most unceremonious of fashions, 78-62, at Swenson Gym.
Modesto, the 2005 champ, was in control early, leading Weston Ranch by 15 points after a 23-point outburst in the first quarter. But the Cougars steadily chipped away at the lead, eventually turning a deficit to a solid advantage.
Led by James Nunnally and Walter Jackson, who scored 24 and 21 points, respectively, Weston Ranch outscored Modesto in each of the remaining three quarters to secure a match today against Turlock at 7:30 p.m. at Tracy High. Modesto will play Tracy at 4:30 p.m. at West High.
http://tracypress.com/content/view/6447/2/
Weston Ranch finishes strongCougars' 25-point fourth leads to victory over Modesto in Tracy
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BEE STAFF REPORTS
Last Updated: December 21, 2006, 05:37:08 AM PST
TRACY — Weston Ranch, outscoring Modesto High 25-10 in the fourth quarter, prevailed 78-62 Wednesday in Tracy Winter Holiday Classic second-day action.
James Nunnally scored 24 points and Walter Jackson 21 for Weston Ranch.
http://www.modbee.com/sports/story/13133144p-13779830c.html
Weston Ranch pulls out a win Rally from 21-6 deficit puts Cougars in semifinals
By Stephen Roberson,, STAFF WRITER,
Article Last Updated: 12/21/2006 02:35:05 AM PST
TRACY — Fed up, Weston Ranch coach Bill Slikker put the onus on his players.
The Cougars had struggled through an ugly first half Wednesday night, falling behind Modesto 21-6 with about a minute left in the first quarter.
Slikker put forth the challenge; his players responded.
They closed the first half on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to four by halftime, 34-30, and went on to a 78-72 win at Tracy High to advance to tonight's Tracy Winter Holiday Classic semifinals.
James Nunnally finished with a game-high 24 points and — along with teammates Walter Jackson (22 points) and Jerrell Walker (13 points) — hauled in nine rebounds.
The Cougars will play Turlock tonight at 7:30 at Tracy High for a spot in Friday's championship game.
After a back-and-forth third quarter, Weston Ranch took the lead for good with 1:31 to play in the third on Brandon Silva's tip-in following a Walter Jackson miss from the free-throw line.
The Cougars (4-3) then pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Silva had the go-ahead putback, but it was his defense that coach Bill Slikker credited as the difference.
"Sammy Yeager's a great player. Our whole focus was to get him frustrated. I thought Brandon Silva did an excellent job. That's why we won the ballgame tonight. Brandon Silva flat beat him up."
Yeager did finish with a team-high 22 points, but his frustration was visible, and it limited his effectiveness after the first quarter, whenhe scored 10 points.
Slikker's demeanor wasn't so positive during the Cougars' early struggles.
"I thought we were down and out there for a while," the coach said. "We called a timeout, and my kids were bickering at each other back and forth. ... I finally said, 'I've had enough. You do it on your own.'
"That's the first time I've ever done anything like that. I just wanted to get their attention. ... I'll tell you what: They responded."
http://www.insidebayarea.com/prepsports/ci_4878225
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