Riverbank’s boys and girls basketball teams each hosted league games this past week.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Lady Bruins sported brand new uniforms, causing a shuffle in jersey number assignments.
The varsity girls ended the first quarter against Ripon Christian in the hole 13-7, but came back to end the first half tied, 19 all. Midway into the third quarter Riverbank had stretched to 24 points on the scoreboard while the Lady Knights remained at 19.
With two minutes left in the quarter, RC had closed the gap, trailing 28-26, and that’s how the period ended.
Three minutes into the final quarter, Riverbank had pulled ahead, 35-28, but, with less than two minutes remaining in the game, RC had come up to just four points behind, 40-36.
Capitalizing on fast breaks and accurate foul shots, the Lady Bruins beat Ripon Christian, 44-38, to remain undefeated so far in Trans-Valley League play.
The JV Lady Bruins came up short, 57-38 in the earlier game. The freshman girls game was canceled, as RC has folded its frosh program.
RHS varsity girls defeated Ripon High 43-39 on Jan. 22 and were to travel to Hughson on Tuesday, Jan. 27 after The News went to press. They’re set to host Hilmar on Thursday, Jan. 29.
The RHS JV girls lost at Ripon 48-21 on Jan. 22. The freshman score was 48-8, Ripon.
Boys Basketball
RHS boys basketball traveled to Ripon Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The varsity Bruins fell to the Knights, 55-45. RC is regarded as the favorite to take the TVL title, though the Bruins will look to split the season series when the Knights come to the Fauria gym later in the season.
At the end of the week, the boys basketball program hosted Ripon High School, on Friday, Jan. 23.
The varsity Bruins were tied at the end of the first quarter, 14 all, and led 28-21 midway through the second frame, ending the half ahead, 33-31.
By the middle of the third quarter, Ripon had taken a 39-36 lead, with their height under the basket beginning to make a difference. The Bruins were down 52-40 by the end of the period.
The game ended with the visiting Indians taking the TVL contest by a final score of 71-53.
The JV boys ended their game just 10 points down, 64-54, to Ripon. The Frosh also ended up on the short side of the score, 55-38.
Riverbank was to host the Hughson Huskies on Tuesday, Jan 27, then travel to Mariposa for non-league action on Thursday, Jan. 29.
