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Second place Lions Tournament finish for Lady Cougars
Varsity Basketball
12-10 aRI
Escalon junior Ari Velasco looks to drive in toward the basket against the defense of Central Catholic during Friday night’s championship game in the annual Pete Arellano Memorial Lions Club Tournament. The host Lady Cougars fell by a 42-31 final to Central in the contest. Marg Jackson/The Times
12-10 BRETTA
Lady Cougar Bretta Brooks hopes to get the pass off to a teammate as the Central Catholic defender closes in during action on Friday night, Dec. 5. Central won the annual Lions Club tournament title with a win over Escalon in the championship game. Marg Jackson/The Times

After putting their first two non-league contests in the win column by large margins, Escalon’s varsity basketball girls took part this past week in the Lions Club Tournament, hosted at EHS. Games were Wednesday, Dec. 3 through Friday, Dec. 5 and Escalon eased past their first two opponents, then fell in the championship contest to Central Catholic.

First, opening up play on Nov. 24 against Tokay, the girls were 57-24 winners and they came back the next day to craft a 70-39 victory against West on Nov. 25.

The three-day Pete Arellano Memorial Tournament hosted by the Escalon Lions Club saw eight teams taking part.

Modesto High School, Central Catholic, Bret Harte, Davis, Argonaut, Johansen, Millennium and host Escalon all took the court.

In their opening round game in this 49th Lions Club tourney, Escalon took on Millennium in the final contest of the day on Dec. 3, winning by a 57-23 margin.

“We led 20-3 after one quarter and never looked back,” said Escalon head coach Joseph Dalpogetti. “Ari (Velasco) had 16 points and Avery (Bartelink) had 13.”

Other opening round winners were Central Catholic defeating Modesto High, Bret Harte defeating Davis and Argonaut topping Johansen.

On Thursday, Dec. 4, Escalon put away Argonaut in the championship flight contest, 73-30.

“Ari and Madi (Babasa) had 17 and 15 respectively at halftime,” Dalpogetti said of his points leaders against Argonaut. “They played sparingly in the second half.”

Central Catholic, meanwhile, defeated Bret Harte on day two while, on the consolation side of the bracket, Davis topped Modesto High and Johansen got past Millennium.

On the final day, Friday, Dec. 5, Millennium defeated Modesto High for a seventh place finish. Johnsen got the win over Davis to take the consolation championship. Bre Harte topped Argonaut to nail down third place honors.

Escalon and Central Catholic matched up in the tournament finale, with the title on the line in the 8 p.m. contest Friday.

For the Lady Cougars, it was a tough task, as Central kept the pressure on and forced Escalon into rushed decisions and hurried shots.

“They are much improved from the last few years with some new players,” Dalpogetti said of Central Catholic. “I knew it was a tough game coming in because they’re very athletic. We led early 15-9 but then we sputtered for the rest of the game.”

The final score was 42-31 Central, holding the Lady Cougars to a season low point total.

“Ari Velasco did it all for us in the game,” Dalpogetti said, adding that Velasco and Babasa both received All Tournament honors.

The loss to Central was the first for Escalon this season, with the girls now with a 4-1 record.

They are scheduled to play Venture Academy next, in the first round of the Gregori Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.