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Varsity Basketball Girls Earn Tourney Consolation Title
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Patterson was a buzz saw but rebounding with two wins after running into the Tigers landed Escalon's varsity girls the consolation championship at the Turlock Christian Tournament.

The hoop girls started the week playing Turlock Christian and took a 59-48 loss on Monday, Dec. 5. Parker Pilati had 11 points, Sierra Cooper and Kaitlin DaDalt added nine each in the loss.

Thursday through Saturday saw the girls in Turlock, squaring off first with Patterson.

"They play a really aggressive full court press," explained head coach Joe Dalpogetti. "It really threw off our game plan."

The result was a 43-12 loss with leading scorers Cassie Kennedy and Ami Hood scoring just three points each.

Dropping onto the consolation side of the board with the opening round loss, the Lady Cougars regrouped and earned a huge 59-18 win over Orestimba on Friday. Dalpogetti said the victory was a combination of his team playing a much better 32 minutes and facing a weaker opponent than the day before.

"We were able to score against Orestimba," he said.

The final could have been higher, but Dalpogetti said he always adjusts to the game situation.

"Whenever we have a huge lead early, I'll pull off the press," he explained.

Adalia Cajias had 12 points to lead the team, with Hood and Kennedy adding nine apiece.

"It was 39-6 at halftime," Dalpogetti said.

In the Saturday consolation championship, it was an easy win over an overmatched Millennium squad, 69-12.

"Ami Hood had 14 points, Adalia Cajias had 12," Dalpogetti said. "We pulled off our press in the first quarter, we called off the fast breaks in the second half."

The victory gave Escalon the consolation championship of the tournament and Hood was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Dalpogetti said the tournament was good for the team, especially taking two wins in a row.

"I like that they got some confidence back," he explained. "It was nice to see us push the ball up the court, work out some of the kinks."