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Holiday Shortened Schedule Yields Soccer Tune-Ups
J Rodriguez
Bruin Jose Rodriguez, 20, takes possession of the ball from a Hawks opponent in a home match on Monday, Nov. 22. Riverbank hosted Central Valley High School in a pre-season varsity boys soccer game. Ric McGinnis/The News

It was a short week for Riverbank High athletes gearing up for the winter season last week, with only one soccer pre-season contest each for the boys and girls teams running up to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. There was also some hoops action.

 

Lady Bruin Basketball

Varsity girls basketball was busy this past week, both before and after Thanksgiving, at the Wallace Memorial Tournament in Waterford.

Riverbank beat Stone Ridge Christian High School, of Merced, on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 53-32. On Wednesday, they beat Summerville, from Tuolumne County, 53-35. On Friday, Nov. 26, the Lady Bruins won, 51-20, over Denair.

Then, on Saturday, against the host Lady Wildcats of Waterford, the Lady Bruins came on strong once more, winning 48-13.

Four games over five days on a holiday week, and four wins.

They were to play at Johansen in Modesto on Tuesday, then go to the Escalon Tournament for games Wednesday through Friday. They won’t be playing on the home court again until Dec. 14.

 

Bruin Soccer

The only action varsity boys soccer saw was a workout against the visiting Hawks from Central Valley High School in Ceres on Monday, Nov. 22. Even though it didn’t count, they had referees and someone manning the scorekeeper’s booth.

It was unfortunate, because, even though they blocked several shots on goal, Riverbank was down by five tallies at the end of the first half, and the final score was 11-0, Central Valley.

The Bruins return to action Dec. 1 in Oakdale, then travel to the Argonaut Tournament in Jackson Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4. They’ve got two away matches next week, at Lathrop on Monday and Weston Ranch in Stockton on Wednesday.

 

Girls Soccer

In action on Tuesday, Nov. 23, the Lady Bruins hosted Weston Ranch High School, out of Stockton.

The scores were few and far between, nobody was keeping score, and there were no referees for the varsity girls soccer match.

They were scheduled to play at Johansen High School in Modesto on Monday, then at home against McNair of Stockton on Wednesday. They’re to play in the Manteca Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4.

 

Bruin Basketball

The boys basketball teams were scheduled to have a pre-season matchup last Wednesday, a minimum day because of Thanksgiving the next day, hosting the Ceres Bulldogs, but it was called off at midday.

The Bruins varsity boys team was scheduled to play the Foundation Game against Johansen High here at home on Monday this week, Nov. 29, after the press deadline for the News.

The freshmen are scheduled to play in the Modesto City Tournament Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 1 through 3; while the JV and varsity Bruins host the Ron Peterson Tip-Off Tournament Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 2 through 4.

Then they have three straight home games, starting on Wednesday, Dec. 15, and again on Friday, Dec. 17 and Monday, Dec. 20.

K pardo
Lady Bruin Kelly Pardo, 8, dribbles the ball down field in the first half of varsity girls soccer play on Tuesday last week. It was scrimmage time again, against Weston Ranch High School in Stockton, with no score being kept. Ric McGinnis/The News