TURLOCK -- Doug Cornfoot's rebuilding project, required after Turlock High graduated four all-conference players from its title team, fell a game short of its goal Wednesday.
Turlock could have earned a second consecutive Central California Conference title with an upset of Golden Valley, but history indicated the 'Dogs were longshots at best.
GV, which won the first two meetings handily, completed the trifecta with a 61-37 win in Turlock's gym. That gave GV (20-6, 11-3) the crown. GV began the night a game ahead of Turlock (15-12, 10-5) and Buhach Colony (17-9, 9-5). BC was upset on the road by Pitman, losing 55-51, to fall out of title contention.
Turlock will find out Sunday if it has made the Division 1 playoffs -- but Cornfoot says his Bulldogs are ready to extend their season.
"We struggled early in the season, but we've won five of our last six games," Turlock's coach said.
Turlock had put together a run of last-minute victories, including Monday's last-second win over Pitman, but this one was over early.
GV's philosophy was to get physical with 6-foot-6 Alek Carlson, knocking him off balance when he drove and hand-checking him in the open court. That physical play eventually led to a decisive run.
Coach Keith Hunter created the strategy, but wasn't around to put into affect: He was serving a one-game suspension for having been tossed from GV's previous game.
GV applied pressure whenever possible, forcing Carlson to be the primary ballhandler. He used his size to protect the ball from probing hands, dishing to a guard after getting the ball across halfcourt.
Turlock tried a variety of ploys, swinging the ball on the perimeter, using 6-6 sophomore Austin Bush in the high post as a distributor and attacking the basket with Carlson and DeShawn Holcombe.
After trailing 10-0 just 5 minutes in, Carlson brought the Dogs back with a 10-footer to make it 12-4. He had a reverse layup moments later, scooping the ball under the outstretched hands of a defender, and his free throw with 2:32 in the half brought Turlock to within 23-17.
After Tyler Murphy hit a 12-footer from the left side with 1:15 in the half, GV found itself clinging to a 25-21 lead. GV opened the second half with a 9-2 run and that's when the Dogs lost their cool.
Holcombe drove to the basket, tumbling to the floor as a defender jumped in front of him at the last moment. As Holcombe stepped to the free-throw line for what he assumed would be two shots, the official whistled him for a charge.
Yes, the defender was late to the spot, Cornfoot was told, but Holcombe had lowered his shoulder whiles taking a shot. After Carson was knocked to the floor moments later, Holcombe grabbed a loose ball -- only to be whistled for another foul. He tossed the ball in disbelief, drawing a technical. It all began to spiral out of control.
By the end of the quarter, GV led 44-23 and had outscored Turlock 17-2.
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