With the 2015 Riverbank High School sports season coming to a close soon, there are just a handful of home games left on the schedule.
This past Friday, the Bruin football teams traveled to Merced to take on the Stone Ridge Christian High School Knights in non-conference play. Riverbank opted to play an independent, non-league schedule this season.
In describing the 49-0 loss, Riverbank Coach Kit Jory noted the Knights were “by far the best team we’ve played all year.”
“Stone Ridge should go into the playoffs,” he added.
Jory said the Bruins were in scoring position five times during the game. He said they had three field goals blocked, with one more missing wide to the left on the last play of the game.
He said the team’s difficulties remain a lack of depth in key positions. He also indicated that injuries remain a major factor against them.
This week, the Bruins visit Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp to take on the Bullfrogs on Oct. 23. They return for the final game of the season at home on Friday, Oct. 30, for Senior Night against the Vikings of Johansen High School from Modesto.
VOLLEYBALL
Despite a strong showing on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the Lady Bruin varsity volleyballers came up short in three straight games on the road, with the match going to Escalon.
Getting off to a 6-4 lead in the first game, they hung in at an 8-10 deficit, but scored only four more points, finishing on the losing side of the 12-25 final.
RHS stayed close in the second game, matching point for point in the early going, and were ahead 11-10 near the midway point. They stayed close, one point ahead, one point behind, before stumbling to 16-19 near the end. The Lady Bruins fought back but ultimately lost that game by a 21-25 score.
Riverbank fell behind in the third game, coming as close as being down 10-6, but slipped to 15-7, before falling in the 11-25 clincher for the host Escalon team.
Head coach for the opponent Lady Cougars, Kayla Kootstra, offered some praise for the Riverbank squad following the match.
“They were much improved,” Kootstra said of the visiting Lady Bruins, noting their level of play has risen since the first time the teams faced off in league action.
“They definitely battled. They made us work to earn our points.”
Earlier in the week, at Hilmar on Monday, Oct. 12, Riverbank fell in three games, according to RHS coach Angela Cuellar.
This week the Riverbank girls were to host the Mountain House Lady Mustangs on Monday, and travel to Hughson today, Oct. 21, to take on the Lady Huskies.
Riverbank’s final home game will be on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when they take on the Ripon Indians. It will also be Senior Recognition Night.
They finish the season on the road, Nov. 2, at Modesto Christian High School.
SOCCER
The Bruin varsity soccer team had two games scheduled for last week.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, they traveled just down the road to Escalon, but fell to the Cougars. EHS scored just once in each half, but it was enough for the 2-0 victory.
On Thursday, the Mountain House Mustangs were supposed to come to town, but at game time, the RHS field was being used for practice.
This Tuesday, Oct. 20, Riverbank was to face the Hughson Huskies on their field, and are to finish their home games against Ripon next week, Tuesday, Oct. 27, which will also be Senior Night for the soccer team.
GOLF
The Lady Bruin linksters were to play in the Bulldog Invitational in Tracy on Monday, Oct. 12, then host Hughson on the Escalon course on Thursday, Oct. 15, but no results have been reported.
They were set to play in the Valley Foothill League Tournament on the River Oaks course on Monday, Oct. 19, then host an Annual Fall Pro-Am today, Oct. 21, on the Escalon course.
Monday, Oct. 26 will see the Division V Sections at Micke Grove Golf Course in Stockton, with the Masters Tournament set for Monday, Nov. 3, on Spanos Golf Course in Stockton.
CROSS COUNTRY
Riverbank’s cross country teams were to participate in the Roughrider Invitational in Fresno on Friday, Oct. 16.
The Trans-Valley League Championships are set for Tuolumne Park in Modesto on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The Sub-Section Meet in Angels Camp is set for Saturday, Nov. 7, with the Section Meet the following Saturday, Nov. 14, at Folsom High School.
The State Meet is scheduled for Nov. 28 in Fresno, to close out the fall running season.
