Tracy Press

At a glance
Weston Ranch 64, Turlock 58

Last year’s champion clinched a berth in the Tracy Winter Holiday Classic third-place game at least, as the Cougars (5-2) took and held the lead from the opening minutes of the first quarter but still had to work hard to fend off Turlock, 64-58, on Thursday at West High.

Weston Ranch senior guard/forward James Nunnally, the 2006 tournament MVP who committed last month to play at University of the Pacific, sparked his team in nearly every way possible, knocking down key 3s and pressuring Turlock’s ball handlers into turnovers. He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, but senior Chris Gray’s 15 points were tops for the Cougars (5-2).

Gray and Nunnally led Weston Ranch to a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but Turlock was far from shell-shocked. Coach Doug Cornfoot’s squad stayed disciplined, moving the ball and finding open lanes with precision.

Weston Ranch pushed the lead to as much as 10 at times but found itself ahead by only three in the game’s final seconds. Mic’eal Thomas hit three of four free throws down the stretch to extend the final margin of victory. For good measure, Gray swatted away a final Turlock effort as time expired.

Nunnally added two blocks.

“They’re a heck of a team,” said Weston Ranch coach Bill Slikker, a former West assistant. “We’re happy with the results — but if we had knocked the free throws down, we would have made it a lot simpler.”

Weston Ranch will face West in the championship semifinal at 7:30 p.m. today. The winner of that game will face the winner of the 6 p.m. matchup between Edison and Ceres. Both games are at West High.

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written by Smurfette , December 21, 2007

Nunnally committed to UC Santa Barbara, his brother Michael goes to UOP.