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Bruin Squads Busy With Trans-Valley League Contests
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Riverbank senior guard Preston Davidson shoots over three Oakdale defenders in the third quarter of the varsity boys basketball game at home on Friday, Jan. 11. Unfortunately, the visitors were taller, and the Mustangs left with a non-league victory.News Photos By Ric McGinnis
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Backup center Jesus Flores, 35, gets past the Oakdale defender for a two-point layup during action in Friday’s home varsity boys game, a non-league match with the visiting Mustangs.
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Soccer player Carlos Moreno, 10, kicks the ball away from two Ripon defenders during the second half of a varsity boys soccer match last week. The pass resulted in a scoring attempt from the middle of the field. Riverbank came out on top in the Trans-Valley League contest, defeating the Indians on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at home.

Although Riverbank High School student athletes have only recently returned to their classrooms, last week was a particularly busy one on the playing fields and courts.

With the early start of the winter schedule required by state athletic organizations this year, there are only a few weeks left for winter sports. Trans-Valley League play for boys and girls basketball and soccer will be done by Feb. 7.

And workouts for RHS spring sports were to have begun on Monday this week, Jan. 14.

 

Bruin Basketball

Several boys basketball games were scheduled on the home court this past week, making for a busy trio of days.

Tuesday, Jan. 8 saw Riverbank hosting the Hughson Huskies, coming out on top, 56-52 in league play, but it took a four-minute overtime period to seal the deal. Though they were down 41-37 at the end of the third quarter, the Bruins came on strong, surging ahead, but getting tied up at 50 with a Hughson desperation 3-pointer that fell just as the buzzer sounded. Riverbank prevailed in the OT period to claim the win.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, they saw Hilmar come to town, disposing of them, 57-51.

The next day, Friday, the nearby Mustangs of Oakdale came to town for a reschedule of an earlier non-league game. That, it turned out, was the undoing of the Bruin team.

It could have been that the players were a little fatigued by their busy schedule, it could have been that the Mustangs had at least four players taller than Riverbank’s tallest.

Down 18-10 at the end of the first quarter and 29-20 at the half, the Bruins were able to pull to within 39-36 at the end of the third quarter. A 3-pointer just one minute into the fourth frame brought them to a tie, but, ultimately, they succumbed to a 67-52 loss.

The upside is that it was a non-league game, so the result doesn’t count against the Bruins’ TVL record.

The games for the Riverbank boys this week include one on the road; they were to play at Ripon Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 15 after The News went to press, and one at home, hosting Livingston on Friday, Jan. 18. They will be back on the road for a Tuesday, Jan. 22 game at Hilmar.

 

Lady Bruin Hoops

Girls basketball traveled to Hughson on Tuesday, for just the one game of the week, falling 53-27. They were to host Ripon Christian on Tuesday, after The News went to press. Action on Thursday, Jan. 17 will see the girls head to Livingston. Both contests this week are TVL contests. Next week, the girls will host Hilmar on Tuesday, Jan. 22, and travel to Escalon on Jan 24.

 

Boys and Girls Soccer

The Bruin varsity boys soccer team came on strong at home last week, beating Ripon High, 3-0, and Modesto Christian, 7-0, both TVL matches. This week, they’re away, at Hilmar on Monday, travel to Escalon on Wednesday, and Livingston on Friday.

Last Tuesday, Jan. 8, Lady Bruin soccer suffered a 7-0 loss to Ripon and had a bye on Thursday, as Modesto Christian does not have a girls soccer team.

This week, they’ll be busy, though, with three home matches: Jan. 14 was a scheduled game against Hilmar, after The News went to press. Wednesday, Jan. 16 they are scheduled to host Escalon, and Friday, Jan. 18, meeting Livingston.