Putting away Bret Harte early, the Riverbank varsity basketball boys then had to battle Sonora to the final whistle, taking a 3-point win in that contest as well.

In action Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Bruins scored an easy 81-61 victory, rolling to a 41-21 first quarter lead with a huge 25-point night from Rolaun Dunham leading the way. Ylli Lopez was also in double figures with 14 points and the Bruins were never really challenged by the Bullfrogs, as the squad had a 51-26 lead at the half. They outscored Bret Harte 19-16 in the third and the Bullfrogs had a 19-11 scoring edge in the final frame but the Bruins’ lead was too much to overcome.

Friday, Dec. 20 it was a 65-62 win at home for the Bruins and head coach Jeff Jennings, getting past a higher division Sonora Wildcats team. The contest was a battle, with Riverbank outscoring Sonora over the first two periods, 18-9 and 23-21 for a 41-30 halftime lead. The Bruins increased the lead to 54-41 after three and had to withstand a furious Sonora comeback attempt in the fourth, the Wildcats pouring in 21 points to Riverbank’s 10 in that quarter. For the Bruins, the big lead early proved to be key; as they held on for the victory.

Riverbank raised its record to 6-0 at home with the win and now are at 8-1 overall.

Dunham had another solid effort, 15 points for the Bruins, with Curtis Porter III also in double figures with 14, Tristin Rodgers with 13. A trio of players, Ylli Lopez, Angel Esquivel and Reilly Nabors, put in seven points apiece, and Freddy Capas was also on the score sheet with two points.

The Bruins had four 3-point baskets on the night, with one each from Dunham, Lopez, Esquivel and Porter, while also hitting 15-of-22 free throws.

Next up for the varsity boys, a home contest hosting Enochs High School on Monday, Dec. 30.