The Oakdale High School varsity basketball programs played this past week and found some success. The varsity boys team defeated Tokay 81-75. In the win, Oakdale connected on a school record 15 three-point field goals. Five of those long balls came from junior guard Noah Zepeda.
Zepeda scored a total of 20 points in the win. Junior Jacob Cavanaugh had 16 points and freshman guard Bryce Busam scored 14 points.
Oakdale then fell to Riverbank 65-42 on Friday night, Dec. 15.
This week the boys will travel to Ceres on Wednesday, Dec. 20 for tip off at 7:30 p.m. Two days later they travel to Livermore for a 5 p.m. tip-off time.
For the girls, Oakdale was on the home court on Tuesday, Dec. 12 and defeated West by a 33-24 final. The girls then participated in the Christian Brothers Tournament. The Lady Mustangs went 1-2 in the tournament. Oakdale fell to host Christian Brothers 58-10 in the first round. Oakdale did secure a 47-14 win against Weston Ranch to bounce back strong. However, their tournament play ended with a loss on Saturday, Dec.16 when they fell to Davis 47-22. Oakdale traveled to Lodi on Monday, Dec. 18 following The Leader’s sports deadline. They will travel to Ceres to face Golden Valley High School on Wednesday, Dec. 20 for a 7:30 tipoff time.
SOCCER GIRLS
As the preseason schedule starts to wind down, Oakdale’s varsity girls stayed busy and played four games this past week. The girls split the non-conference contests. Their first game came on Monday, Dec. 11 against Beyer and the Lady Mustangs took the win, 5-0. In the victory, last season’s Valley Oak League Most Valuable Player Kyndra Obermeyer scored three goals to help propel Oakdale to victory. She also added an assist. McKinlee Marler and Jocelyn Gradilla each added a goal and an assist. Lyndee Cox and Claire McGee Brown each had an assist in the contest. Keira McCulley had one save as the goalkeeper.
Two days later Oakdale defeated Turlock 3-0. In the win Obermeyer had a goal and two assists. Dakota Burford and Kyra Binstock each added a goal. McCulley had a save and in the second half Avery Alves had a pair of saves for Oakdale.
The Lady Mustangs competed in the Delta College Winter Showcase on Saturday, Dec. 16 but were blanked by both Pleasant Grove 1-0 and by Saint Francis 3-0.
This week Oakdale will host Central Valley on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. On Friday, Dec. 22, the girls will host Lincoln at 5 p.m.
SOCCER BOYS
The boys were off all last week and returned to action on Tuesday, Dec. 19 when they took on Hughson following The Leader’s press time. Oakdale will be off until Jan. 4 when they open up Valley Oak League play at home against Kimball.
WRESTLING
The 2023 Reno Tournament of Champions was held this past weekend in Reno, Nevada. Oakdale placed 12th overall with a total team score of 111. St. John Bosco placed first with 268 points. For the Mustangs, Carlos Garcia placed first overall in the 175-pound bracket to earn a tournament championship.
In the quarterfinals, Garcia knocked off Brady Wight of Vacaville 7-1. He then defeated Bridger Thalman of Mountain Crest (Utah) 4-3 in the semifinals. In the finals Garcia defeated Hudson Rogers of Meridian (Idaho).
“All I can really say is that all the hard work is paying off and this championship is just the start of my season,” said Garcia. “I have my goal set on being the state champion and I think that winning the tournament in Reno was the start of building up my momentum to go through the rest of my season strong.”
Wes Burford placed fifth in the 190-pound division at the tournament. Emilio Johnson placed ninth overall in the 285-pound bracket for the Mustangs.
Oakdale is scheduled to attend their next tournament on Dec. 28 and 29 at the Sierra Nevada Classic.
