Riverbank High School athletes found themselves transitioning this week from winter sports to spring sports. While basketball and soccer teams closed out their seasons, some players went directly to baseball or softball fields and the track stadium.
Weather permitting, practice for the spring sports began Feb. 6, but without players still involved with soccer or basketball. Here is a wrap of the winter sports squads from this past week’s action.
Boys Soccer
The Bruin boys soccer teams finished their season last week with two home games.
On Monday, Feb. 13, they beat the Crusaders of Modesto Christian High School, 7-0. Last Wednesday, they lost to the Yellowjackets of Hilmar, 4-2, disappointing the Senior Night crowd who came to watch their players in their last high school game.
The varsity Bruins did make the playoffs; they were scheduled to take on Encina on the road Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 21, after The News went to press. Riverbank went in as the Number 7 seed in Division VI, traveling to No. 2 Encina. Fellow Trans-Valley League squad Hilmar is also in D-VI, playing as the No. 4 seed and hosting No. 5 Amador on Tuesday. Top seed Orestimba was to host No. 8 Millennium and No. 3 Delhi was to host No. 6 Delta. Winners of the first round games advance to action on Thursday, Feb. 23, with the higher seed winners hosting the contests.
Lady Bruin Soccer
On the same days last week, the girls varsity soccer team played the same schools as the boys, closing out their season with away games.
The Riverbank girls lost at Modesto Christian 4-1 on Feb. 13, and at Hilmar, 5-0, to finish out the year.
Girls Basketball
The Lady Bruins closed out their season, with two final home games last week, as well.
On Friday, Feb. 10, they hung on to finish 60-53 over the Lady Huskies of Hughson at home, but took a loss in their season finale. The Tuesday, Feb. 14 Senior Night festivities for the players and crowd ended with a disappointing 88-40 loss to the Mustangs of Mountain House on Valentine’s Day.
The JV Lady Bruins closed out their season on Feb. 14 with a close loss to Mountain House, 47-43.
Bruin Boys Basketball
Boys basketball players ended their seasons last week with split results:
The varsity squad finished on top at Hughson, 53-38, on Friday, Feb. 10; on Feb. 14, they lost at Mountain House, 52-46.
Spring Sports Start
Bruin Track and Field runners are set to start up their season with the 24-hour Ultra Race Friday and Saturday this weekend, on the home all-weather track at Angelo Novi Stadium.
Boys baseball's season is set to begin on Friday, Feb. 24, hosting Waterford, then they travel to Johansen High in Modesto on Monday, Feb. 27. The next day, the Bruins are set to host Ripon Christian High School.
The Lady Bruin softball team was to begin with a game at Venture Academy in Stockton The girls softball team will be hosting Davis High School of Modesto on Monday, Feb. 27, then welcome Millennium High School from Tracy next Wednesday, March 1.
All the spring sport games scheduled, of course, are dependent upon weather and field conditions.
