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Lady Bruins Cant Stop Modesto Christian
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It has been a hugely successful season for Riverbank’s varsity girls basketball team.

Except when Modesto Christian is involved.

The same held true on Thursday, Feb. 13 when the Lady Bruins couldn’t get their normally strong offense going, missing their first several shot attempts and failing to keep the host Lady Crusaders from running up the score. In the end, it was an easy 69-36 win for MC, which clinched the Trans-Valley League title in undefeated fashion. Riverbank, which was slated to play Tuesday night at Hughson to close out their TVL schedule, has lost only twice in league play, both times to MC.

This is the last year MC will be in the TVL, the private school known for its recruiting practices to field winning teams, is exiting for a higher division.

Trailing 29-3 after one quarter, Riverbank was able to keep pace with MC in the second but still trailed 45-21 halfway through the contest. MC outscored the visiting Bruins 24-15 over the final two quarters for the victory.

Only four Riverbank players were able to notch baskets in the loss, paced by the 17-point night from Janelle Luu. Sister Olivia was next with 12, while Daeshya Battle had five and Kendra Garcia put in two points. MC countered with nine players on the scoreboard, two of them in double figures as the Crusaders won on their Senior Night.

Riverbank head coach Lupe Galindo said his team didn’t play its best game and that cost them against MC. Still, the team entered the regular season finale with a 9-2 league mark and are 21-3 overall. They should get a home game to open up the playoffs, with brackets expected to be released on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The JV girls also took a road loss against Modesto Christian, falling in a 61-19 final.