Though classes were still on winter break for the Riverbank Unified School District last week, Riverbank High athletes started their Trans-Valley League winter season sports. Some matches were on the home courts and pitches, others were on the road.
Bruin Basketball
The varsity basketball boys had two games last week, starting out on the road in Hilmar on Tuesday, Jan. 2, winning 72-53. They came home to host a Friday, Jan. 5 game against Escalon, finishing on top, 48-40. They used strong scoring in the second and fourth quarters, and solid defense throughout, to come away with the victory to open league play 2-0.
This week, Riverbank is to host Ripon on Jan. 10, with the varsity game at 7 p.m., and travel to Hughson on Friday, Jan. 12.
Lady Bruin Basketball
In action two times last week, the varsity basketball girls earned a split. On Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Riverbank varsity girls beat Hilmar on the road, 64-29. On Thursday, Jan. 4, they hosted Escalon and lost a squeaker, 52-51.
They were to play at Ripon on Jan. 9, and are set to host Hughson on Thursday, Jan. 11, with the varsity game to start at 7 p.m.
Wrestling
The Bruins hosted a match with Escalon this past week but the visiting Cougars prevailed at all three levels: varsity, JV and girls.
Bruin Soccer
Varsity boys teams saw action on Friday, Jan. 5, on the road, starting their TVL season in Escalon, coming home with a 5-0 victory over the Cougars. They scored one goal in the first half and then found the back of the net four more times in the second half.
The JV boys lost to Escalon, 1-0.
Earlier, on Wednesday, they lost to Laguna Creek of Elk Grove, 1-0, to finish off their pre-season schedule.
They were to host Hughson on Tuesday, Jan. 9 and have a home match scheduled with Livingston on Thursday, Jan. 11 with the varsity match at 5:30 p.m.
Lady Bruin Soccer
Starting off their league season on Friday, Jan. 5, the girls soccer team was on the road even though it was a home game. Bad field conditions prompted the relocation of the TVL contest against Escalon to the Mary Grogan Community Park sports complex in Modesto. Riverbank was able to hold off Escalon by a 1-0 final.
Riverbank’s JV girls were shut out, 3-0, in their game with Escalon.
This week, the soccer girls were to play at Hughson on Jan. 9 and will be at Livingston for a match on Thursday, Jan. 11.
News Editor Marg Jackson contributed to this report.
