The girls finished their season on Thursday with a 29-24 win over Lodi’s freshmen, giving Tracy’s girls a 26-1 record, 10-0 against San Joaquin Athletic Association teams. Lodi finished its season 23-4, 8-2 SJAA. Tracy’s only loss was to Lodi, and three of Lodi’s losses were to Tracy.
That 13-29 loss to Lodi on Dec. 11, in the second round of the East Union Tournament, left Tracy in third place for that event. It was the last time Tracy would settle for anything less than a win.
“After we lost the first game against them, our coach said, ‘Lets win the next 20,’” team captain Tammy Serrato said, adding that by the end of the month her team would beat Lodi 43-26 in the championship game of the Sierra High Tournament on Dec. 30. Tracy’s other tournament win was in their own Green/Gold Tournament at the start of December. Lodi turned out to be Tracy’s toughest opponent in SJAA games.
“The next couple games we knew they were going to come out strong because we had both beaten each other, so we just had to pull it together. No matter how the score came out we had to hold our heads high.”
She added that teamwork made all the difference.
“I think hanging out outside of basketball made us a cohesive unit,” Serrato said. “Even if we were losing by a little we always came back and we played strong the whole time.”
Thursday’s game at Tracy High was an example of how Tracy’s girls could rise to a challenge. Lodi put up a fast-paced game and forced Tracy to rely on quick and accurate passes to get open shots.
“I think we really wanted it more,” Tracy player Shelby Devlin said. “Our shots were going in today and we were hitting the boards good.”
Angela Mariani scored 12 points, including all eight of Tracy’s points in the first quarter. Serrato scored five, Emily Anchartechahar and Shelby Perry scored three each, and Courtney Ramirez, Hannah Ramirez and Devlin scored two each. Other team members are Allie Britt, Hayley Davis, Muzhgan Osmani, Alija Robinson and Eva Surwary.
Freshman head coach Frank Juarez said he’s eager to see how this group of girls shapes Tracy’s varsity team in two years, considering that the varsity team already has one freshman and three sophomores.
“It usually does translate to a better team, especially junior and senior year if the team has been successful, like it has been,” he said. Juarez added that this team was one of the easiest freshman teams for him to coach.
“They had prior knowledge. A lot of them played AAU basketball and some just played elementary, but they all had some kind of experience,” he said. “A lot of times I wouldn’t have to call a play. My team captain and point guard Tammy (Serrato) would call it.”
“I kind of let her run things out there, because as long as things are running smooth why mess with it?”
Contact Bob Brownne at 830-4227 or brownne@tracypress.com.
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