An appearance in the Pitman Holiday Classic Tournament in Turlock during the holiday break saw the varsity Lady Bruins bring home the tournament championship, notching a trio of basketball wins.
They opened up with a 63-40 decision over the Mt. Diablo Red Devils on Friday, Dec. 26. Riverbank opened up with a 13-9 run in the first quarter and extended the lead to 26-16 at the half. Senior Leilani Olanolan had a monster night for her team, pouring in 30 points and junior Isa Fernández added 15 to the total. Olanolan also recorded six assists and had 13 steals in the contest.
Against Merced on Saturday, Dec. 27, the Riverbank girls were 56-46 winners.
They took a 35-15 lead at the half, then had to work hard down the stretch to hold off the Lady Bears, who outscored them 18-12 in the third quarter and 13-9 in the fourth.
Leading Riverbank were senior Paloma Reyes, 24 points, and Olanolan, right behind her with 23 points. Reyes hit five treys on the night. Fernández pulled down 11 rebounds.
That put the girls into the Monday, Dec. 29 title contest at the Pitman Tournament.
“We won, defeating Mountain House 61-30 in the championship game,” said head coach Janelle Luu. “Senior Leilani Olanolan was named Tournament MVP. Junior Isa Fernández and senior Paloma Reyes were awarded All-Tourney.”
Riverbank improved to 11-6 in preseason play with the trio of victories.
The girls are scheduled to host Gregori on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. to close out preseason and open up Mother Lode League play hosting Calaveras on Friday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Making the most of their one time on the court this past week, Riverbank’s varsity boys basketball team came home from Turlock with a victory.
They faced off against the host Turlock Christian Eagles in the non-league contest on Monday, Dec 29. Final score was 45-42, the Bruin squad battling to put the game in the win column.
Riverbank raised its record to 8-5 so far for the preseason campaign with the Dec. 29 win.
Two more non-league games are on the schedule for the varsity Bruins, as they will host Escalon in a 5 p.m. contest on Saturday, Jan. 3. Then they head to Sonora for a 7 p.m. tip off on Monday, Jan. 5.
Mother Lode League play starts on the home court, as Riverbank hosts Calaveras on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7:15 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Earning a shutout in non-league action, the Riverbank varsity soccer boys took a home win, 7-0, off the pitch from Ripon on Monday, Dec. 29. The Bruins had a 2-0 lead at the half and then exploded for five unanswered goals in the second half to notch the 7-0 victory.
They are next scheduled to travel to Gregori for non-league play on Friday, Jan. 2 and then have a home match Tuesday, Jan. 6 hosting Big Valley Christian in the Mother Lode League opener at 5:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
A trip to Bear Creek on Monday, Dec. 22 didn’t go the way the varsity Lady Bruins hoped, as the girls soccer team got shut out by a 6-0 final. That was their final game of 2025 and they will next take on Hilmar in non-league play, traveling to face off with the Lady Yellowjackets on Friday, Jan. 2 in a 3 p.m. contest.
They host Big Valley Christian to open up the Mother Lode League schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m.
