Bret Harte’s looking to carry the momentum from back-to-back Mother Lode League wins as it seeks a playoff berth.

The Bullfrogs defeated the Summerville Bears 44-23 on Thursday night in Tuolumne  and that coming on the heels of Tuesday’s 21-point demolition of the Linden Lions. 

A victory tonight over the Amador Buffaloes, who are winless in the MLL so far this season, would likely push the Bullfrogs into playoff contention when the latest Sac-Joaquin Power Ratings are released on Monday.

Bret Harte has already beaten Amador with ease twice this year but will face a tough stretch of games to close out the season. Next week, they host 22-0 Argonaut on Tuesday and the reigning Section champs Calaveras on Friday.

Bret Harte‘s Tyler Evans (15) shoots a jumper on Friday night. JEFF RASMUSSEN/COURTESY PHOTO

But his most important bucket came with just two seconds left on the clock to ice the win.

Sonora Wildcat guard Bailey Henington (3, in white) drives to the basket Friday night on homecoming for two of her game-high 17 points against arch-rival Oakdale at Bud Castle Gym. Amy Alonzo Rozak / The Union Democrat

And they put on an outstanding show in front of a packed house at Bud Castle Gym, pounding arch-rival Oakdale 51-18.

“It was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever played in,” said Wildcat senior Bryanna Owens, who scored five points and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. “We had the band there and there were so many people. It was so much fun. We were extra nervous before the game. But coach told us to stay calm and enjoy the moment. And I loved it. I wish it could be like that more often.”

Bret Harte Bullfrog head coach Jeff Eltringham said his team was “fired up” to hit the court Friday for its homecoming hoops clash against Amador.

“We had a lot of emotions and came out pretty good in the first half,” Eltringham said.

The Frogs jumped out to a 19-13 lead to end the first quarter and were up 35-24 at the break. They would end up winning 67-59, but not before overcoming some tense moments.

The Calaveras Redskins boys’ basketball team picked up their second Mother Lode League victory Friday when they defeated the Linden Lions 65-49.

Calaveras’ Mike Seawell and Wyatt Madrid combined for 46 of the Redskins’ total points. Seawell had 26 and Madrid 20.

The two also accounted for Calaveras’ six 3-pointers on the night, with Seawell draining five and Madrid adding another.

“Our scoring stayed consistent and our defense stepped it up in the second half,” said Redskins head coach Kraig Clifton.

The Sonora Wildcat boys hoopsters ended their three-game week on Saturday in Stockton with a 56-34 loss against Weston Ranch.

The Cougars jumped out to a quick 22-10 lead after the first quarter and lengthened their advantage to 33-15 at halftime.

“We got off to a bad start,” said Wildcat head coach Rick Francis. “We’d been doing a good job on not turning the ball over, but we had a little problem with them down there. They had a little too much fire-power for us.”

By RUTH ABREO

For The Union Democrat 

We’re back on the lanes after the holiday break and all of the leagues are under way in the second half of the season. And boy, doesn’t the year go fast, especially when you get chronologically older.