Merced girls edge Atwater in key CCC matchup and sit all alone in first place.
The Merced High girls basketball team won the battle of the last two unbeaten Central California Conference teams on Tuesday night with a 47-40 win over Atwater.
Senior Sierra Smith scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds to help lead the Bears, who improved to 15-3 overall and 4-0 in the CCC. Kaitlynn Perez added 11 points and six rebounds.
Atwater dropped to 12-8 overall and 3-1 in the CCC.
Merced will host Patterson on Thursday. Atwater travels to Golden Valley.
Golden Valley 34, Buhach Colony 30 in Atwater — Isela Gonzalez and Charde’ Proctor both scored 11 points to lead the Cougars (12-8, 2-2 CCC) to a road win over the Thunder.
Andrea Renteria hit a big runner late to help seal the win for Golden Valley.
El Capitan 39, Patterson 36 in Merced — Keira Flores scored 17 points to help the Gauchos defeat the Tigers. Caly Curran added eight points for El Capitan (11-9, 3-2 CCC).
Girls Soccer
Buhach Colony 4, Central Valley 3 in Ceres — The Thunder erased a two-goal deficit by outscoring the Hawks 4 to 1 in the second half.
Citlaly Salinas scored two goals for Central Valley.
Buhach Colony stats were not submitted.
Merced 2, Atwater 1 in Atwater — DeAnna Govea and Evelyn Flores scored first-half goals to help the Bears improve to 3-1-1 in the CCC.
Boys Soccer
Central Valley 2, Buhach Colony 2 in Atwater — Sebastian Castillo scored a goal and assisted on Leogiovani Ayala’s goal for the Hawks in a 2-2 draw with the Thunder.
The Thunder are now 0-2-2 in the CCC.
Atwater 7, Merced 3 in Merced — Aziel Gutierrez scored three goals and Armando Ramirez added two goals as the Falcons (2-2 CCC) routed the Bears.
Michaelaron Ortez scored two goals for the Bears (1-3-1 CCC).
Patterson 5, Golden Valley 3 in Merced — Jair Hernandez scored all three of the Cougars’ goals in a loss to the Tigers. David Ledesma had two assists and Andrew Sanchez finished with six saves for Golden Valley (1-1-2 CCC).
