GUSTINE — In a battle of grit and determination, the Gustine Lady Reds (3‑14) powered past Modesto Christian 54‑31 on Thursday night, using a blistering second half to turn a tight game into a runaway win.
The opening quarter was a defensive tug‑of‑war. Gwendolyn Barcelos scored the night’s first points, followed by a bucket from Martha Torres. After Barcelos tied the game at 6 with a pull‑up jumper, Torres buried a three‑pointer in the final seconds to give Gustine a 9‑8 edge.
Barcelos continued to spark the offense in the second quarter, grabbing back‑to‑back steals and converting one into an and‑one. Modesto Christian answered with steady inside scoring and tied the game at 16 midway through the period. Barcelos knocked down a three, but the Crusaders slipped in a last‑second basket to take a 20‑19 lead into halftime.
The third quarter belonged entirely to the Lady Reds. Isabella Haro and Natalie Ventura found their rhythm early, with Ventura drilling a three that ignited a scoring avalanche. Barcelos and Haro combined for six quick points, forcing a Modesto Christian timeout that did little to slow Gustine’s surge. Torres and Haro kept the pressure on as the Reds closed the quarter ahead 40‑28.
Gustine’s transition game took over in the fourth. Olivia Rocha added a pair of buckets and turned a steal into a fast‑break score that stretched the lead to 22. Barcelos capped her standout night with a layup at the buzzer, sealing the 23‑point victory.
Barcelos led the charge with double‑digit scoring and multiple steals, while Torres provided timely perimeter shooting and strong rebounding. Haro fueled the second‑half run with consistent scoring in the paint, and Rocha’s fourth‑quarter burst helped put the game out of reach.
“I am so proud of the girls and their performance tonight,” Coach Lisa Esparza said. “They fought hard and never gave up.”
The Lady Reds return home Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. for Senior Night against Le Grand. They close the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. on the road against Waterford.
