Fairfield boys fall in holiday Classic

STOCKTON — A late charge had the Fairfield High boys basketball team within sight of a win over storied St. Joseph’s of Alameda, but an ill-timed scoring drought gave the Pilots all they needed for a 55-48 victory in the Bear Creek Holiday Classic.

Starting slow also didn’t help the Falcons (7-7), who suffered through a 13-5 second quarter.

“We didn’t come out and play with the right intensity,” said Fairfield coach Tony Bryant. “We found it and put ourselves in a position to win. We led 48-46 with 2 minutes to go.”

Raimauri Barron and DeMoriaye Hart-Spikes led the Falcons with 15 points each, but no other Fairfield player had more than four.

“We fought back, I was proud of the kids,” Bryant said. “We just need better execution down the stretch.”

The Falcons face either McNair of East Union in today’s third-place game at 6 p.m.

Buckingham Charter 61, Vacaville Christian 39: At VCS Christmas Classic, the Knights (8-3) steamrolled the Falcons for their eighth straight victory after an 0-3 start to the season.

Joey Niccum led Buckingham with 14 points and T.C. Strickland added 11. Point guard Devin Riley scored eight points and dished out five assists.

Coach Dan Curry said Riley also controlled the tempo of the game on the defensive end, helping keep the Falcons at bay. It also helped that the Knights exploded for a 25-point first quarter.

The victory puts Buckingham into the championship game today against Forest Lake Christian at 3 p.m.

Prep girls basketball

Armijo loses by 1 to Florin

DUBLIN — Needing a three points to tie it in the closing seconds, the Armijo HIgh girls basketball team got a putback by Melaya Gaines but not the foul call in falling 43-42 to Florin of Sacramento in the semifinals of the West Coast Jamboree’s Gold Division at Valley Christian of Dublin on Friday.

“We were kind of playing from behind, looking at a 3 to tie it at the end,” Indians coach Christian Stoll said. “Melaya got the rebound and put it in. There could’ve been a foul, but there was no call, we lost by one. It was a very physical game. They’re really strong inside.”

Gaines led Armijo (8-5) with 17 points, while Justice Robinson-Kroon had 11.

The Indians play either McNair of Stockton or Presentation of San Jose for third place today at 5 p.m.

Bishop Manogue of Reno 74, Vanden 51: At Antioch in Thursday’s first round of Coral Division play in the West Coast Jamboree, the Vikings (9-2) gave up 31 first-quarter points in suffering just their second loss of the year.

Mariah Williams led Vanden with 12 points, while Kayla Blair added 11.

In last week’s action, the Vikings went 2-1 to finish third in the Mke Desper Bracket of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Ariz.

They opened with a 64-60 win over Chaparral of Colorado with Blair leading the way with 16, while Adrianna Jones and Williams both added 12. Vanden then suffered its first defeat of the season after opening with eight wins with a 57-40 loss to Eitwanda. No Vikings were in double figures as Blair led them with eight.

Vanden rebounded with a 53-44 win over Amador Valley of Pleasanton in the third-place game. Blair was tops with 11 points, followed by Toni Taylor with 10.

Wood JV 42, Redwood 21: At Novato Tournament, the Wildcats rolled to their second victory of the season behind 18 points from Ashanti Randle.

Aira Shankles added 11 points for Wood (2-11), which plays again today at 4 p.m.

Bishop O’Dowd JV 72, Vanden 50: At Irvington Tournament, not even 21 points from Brittney Livingston could boost the Vikings past the Dragons.

Bria Barnette added 10 points and Brooklin Crawford scored eight for Vanden (6-6).

The Vikings are back in action in today’s third-place game against Washington or Weston Ranch at 6 p.m.

JC women’s basketball

Solano ousted from Gervasoni Memorial Tournament

CUPERTINO — The Solano Community College women’s basketball team was eliminated from the Mike Gervasoni Memorial Tournament Friday after a 76-56 loss to Merced.

The Falcons (3-7) were led by Ariel Clay’s 17 points and three steals, while Taylor Hamilton has 11 points, four assists and five steals.

Solano is back in action Wednesday when it opens Bay Valley Conference play against Yuba College at 5:30 p.m.