The Bulldogs lost their fifth league game (2-5) against the visiting St. Francis Troubadours, 53-30 on Friday night.

With three games left in the regular season, Folsom sits on the edge of making playoffs.

The first quarter proved Folsom’s best, as they scored the first eight points of the game and led 10-6 after eight minutes of play. Through the early run Folsom forced five St. Francis turnovers and five fouls. Ten points was their highest scoring quarter, however, as they were held to six in the second and third and eight in the fourth. Layups and close shots weren’t falling for the Bulldogs and a 24-16 deficit at half turned into 20 points in the fourth as Folsom coach Beecher Sykes put in his reserves. St. Francis kept their starters in through the game and jacked up the score in the last three minutes.

In their last meeting at St. Francis, the Bulldogs were shot down 71-33. Back at home in their second match, they held the league leaders to six points in one quarter and seven in another.

With three minutes left the game could have ended displaying a more accurate tale of the game instead of a 22-point blowout. The Bulldogs were down by thirteen in the last minutes.

Folsom committed 22 turnovers and went 0-for-6 from three point. From the foul line they shot 10-of-16. In their six-point third quarter, four points came from the foul line, while the team only made one basket.

St. Francis had 13 offensive boards in the game, allowing for second chance opportunities galore. They finished 5-of-15 from three and 6-of-11 free throws.

“We made the mistake of trying to run with St. Francis last game,” said Sykes. “We wanted to keep it low and came out playing excellent defense. Our game plan confused them, but in the second quarter we got out of that and I had to try and remind them to slow down. In the third quarter we did well and fourth quarter we missed some key layups, which hurt.”

Defensively, Shelbyanne Terrio was a dynamo through the first half especially. In just the first she had three steals. She finished with seven points, 11 rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

Courtney Boyle also played well, as she scored five points to go with three steals and two rebounds.

Courtney Wolking led the team with nine points. Wolking also grabbed four rebounds and had two assists. Nicole Clark also added four points and two rebounds.

The Troubadours had to commit eight fouls in the first quarter to try and contain Folsom from busting a double-digit lead early. Through two ties in the second quarter, St. Francis took their first and final lead in the third at 18-16 as part of an 8-0 run to end the half capped by a three in the last seconds.

Folsom sits tied with Florin (2-5) hoping to catch a spot in the playoffs with four wins. They team needs their next two games to be wins at Monterey Trail and Pleasant Grove, as they finish the Delta River at home against 6-1 Sheldon.