Teams Ready To Battle In Annual Alumni Hoops Tournament

Riverbank graduate Giovanni Nabors looks to score during recent alumni shoot-around action at RHS. Nabors and over 100 other alumni will begin a 14-team tournament on Friday to raise money for the basketball program and Bruin scholarships. IKE DODSON/THE NEWS Riverbank High alumni have flocked to their old stomping grounds this week for a shot at Bruin glory in the second annual RBK Alumni Basketball Tournament. Friday's 4 p.m. tip-offs between M&M RBK and Mo Show will mark the start to a huge 14-team tournament with over 100 Bruin graduates scheduled to participate. "There is just so much hype around the tournament right now and a lot of people are talking about it," Riverbank varsity basketball coach, alumnus and tournament player Jeff Jennings said. "We've got a lot of guys coming in from out of the area, and when you start getting guys like that to come in and take the time and effort to be a part of this, it gets pretty exciting." The tournament will feature 23 games from Friday to Saturday, with a 4 p.m. consolation bracket finale and 5 p.m. title game to be played in the spectacular new Fauria Gymnasium. First-game winners will play for a chance to stay alive in the championship bracket, where consecutive wins will pave the way to an alumni championship. Teams that lose their first game will still see at least three games in a busy tourney schedule. "With 14 teams you just hope that everyone comes and has a great time," Jennings said. "These guys are paying to support the program and you want to make sure everyone walks away feeling good about being a part of Riverbank basketball." Admission is just $2 for adults and $1 for children at the door. The program will host a Saturday lunch for past and present Bruin players that will be open to $5 (adult) and $3 (children) purchases from spectators. Friday's 4 p.m. game will be followed by 5 p.m. match-ups between the RBK Monstars and Circle T Ballers (Bruin gym), as well as the RBK Hustlers vs. Junkyard Dogs (Fauria gym). The RBK Retro Classics will take on team NAK at 6 p.m. (Bruin gym), while Up Top Productions battles RBK New School at the same time in the Fauria gym. Showdowns at 7 p.m. will feature Old School RBK vs. Friends of the Family (Bruin gym) and Team Redemption's contest with the Icey Hot Ballers (Fauria gym). Wednesday, July 21, 2010

"Oooo Barracuda(s)" Riverbank Swimmers Splashing Through Pool For Summer Season Competition

Morgan Barfield delivered spectacular finishes in all four of her events to win each race and lead the Riverbank Barracudas to a tight 126-125 victory over the Patterson Pirates in youth swim action at the Riverbank community pool on Friday, July 16. The 9-10 division standout led both the medley relay and 200 free relay teams to top honors and secured individual wins in the 50 free and 50 breast. Bryce Allen also nabbed three first place finishes in the 50 fly, 200 free relay and medley relay for the 9-10 division. The wins played a huge role in a tight two-team meet that was only separated by a single point. Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Local Runner Takes Two-Mile Crown At Fete Run

Riverbank resident Ruben Esparza won the two-mile run and Shane Brookshire of Collegeville led the 10K in Escalon's Park Fete run/walk events on Saturday morning, July 10. Esparza's time was clocked at 10:45.1, which he considered "good" seeing he was aiming at 10:50. The 45-year-old is a member of ShadowChase Running Club, which organized the event, and Esparza - taking top honors both overall and in his 40 to 49 category - said he runs about 40 miles a week in training. He was joined in the Park Fete event by his brother from Orange County, who happened to be visiting him over the weekend. Brookshire, 23, a graduate of Escalon High School and former employee of Big Boy Market, came in first in the 10K at 35:27.1. He's just finished running for the Cal State Stanislaus team at Turlock and regarded the Escalon event as a time trial for the Wharf-to-Wharf run in Santa Cruz in two weeks' time. Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Cyclones Squads Playing Solid Summer Softball

Youth softball is seeing some success in the local area. The Lady Cyclones Fastpitch Softball organization is based in Ripon and is comprised of young ladies from Ripon, Oakdale, Escalon, Riverbank, Manteca and Modesto. This is the organization's inaugural season and both the 12U and 10U teams are currently ranked No. 1 in National Softball Association (NSA) points for the Western zone of the United States. Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Football P.A. Announcers' Clinic Scheduled

Sports public address announcers and those who want to learn more about announcing can attend a clinic at De La Salle High School in Concord on Saturday, July 10 from 9 a.m. to noon. Host clinician will be Gary Williams, Stadium Announcer for the Oakland Raiders. The event is sponsored by The National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers (NASPAA), the professional association for sports public address announcers. The clinic is for P.A. announcers who announce junior high/middle school, high school, college, and youth football. Substitute announcers, as well as high school and college students, who would like to learn how to announce or who are announcing, are encouraged to register. The clinic will address the announcer's role, P.A. announcing expectations, Do's and Don'ts of announcing football, how to handle emergency situations, as well as scriptwriting and working with a spotter. Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Lady Bruins Go 5-2 In Recent Hoops Action

Riverbank High's girls basketball program is taking advantage of a busy summer schedule to prepare for a grueling Trans-Valley League lineup in the 2010-11 prep season. The team is 5-2 in recent play after convincing wins over Central Catholic and East Union during MJC League competition. The group brought six varsity girls to the Stanislaus State Team Camp Tournament on Friday and upended Turlock via a 53-10 blowout. Losses to Pittsburg and Turlock Christian set up Riverbank's 40-27 rout of Mariposa and 49-27 defeat of Tracy. "Everyone contributed to our finish, but most notable was new incoming freshman Janelle Luu and her younger sister Olivia Luu playing with incredible talent on both ends of the court," Riverbank coach Tim Carnes said. "The Stan girls were gracious and the tourney was one of the best run events I've been to." Kaitlynn Deabenderfer, Aimee Felix and Breanne Magana came through with sharp performances on the court while incoming junior Lisette Reyes and incoming sophomore Venessa Vargas made cases for starting roles once prep basketball resumes. Wednesday, June 30, 2010