Modesto Sports

Winning a Central California Conference title didn't carry an ounce of weight for Merced High when the state's 10 section commissioners gathered Sunday to seed the Northern California boys' basketball tournament.

BAKERSFIELD -- The seconds ticked deep into overtime, and David Ferry of Central Catholic sensed fatigue in his opponent.

SACRAMENTO -- The discussion began late in the second quarter Saturday, just after Brandi Henton popped in the 3-pointer that gave Modesto Christian its 25-point lead.

SACRAMENTO -- It wasn't the biggest challenge of Anthony Pratt's season, but defending 6-foot-9 Colfax center Ryan Salmonson certainly ranks as the most important.

SACRAMENTO -- With nine seconds remaining, the outcome of the Modesto Christian-Argonaut game had been decided by nine seconds short of three quarters.

SACRAMENTO -- At some point in this season, Modesto Christian High moved beyond its ragged start and became a team capable of winning another Sac-Joaquin Section title.

A trip to Arco Arena at the end of every basketball season for the Modesto Christian High boys' and girls' basketball teams seems so predictable the Crusaders might consider it a birthright.

The Bee's Ron Agostini is at the state high school wrestling meet in Bakersfield. He'll be live blogging all day and into the evening, keeping track of all the Modesto-area wrestlers vying for championships.

Given an opportunity to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 title in regulation play, Ripon Christian allowed it to slip away. It was unfortunate, because in the overtime the Knights never got a similar opportunity.

There's a new dynasty dominating Division 5 girls' basketball in the Sac-Joaquin Section, and Turlock Christian ran into it. When the section promoted Modesto Christian's potent program to D-4 two years ago, it felt the move would make the postseason more competitive for the smallest schools.

Shane Tate of Oakdale and David Ferry of Central Catholic brought something to the mat Friday night that may have proven more important than their obvious skill. Both juniors put to work a long memory.

Basketball

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