Though school was still out for the holidays this past week, both high school boys and girls basketball teams were in action, some with tournaments, some with non-league prep games.
On Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 26, 28 and 29, Riverbank freshmen were participating in the 20th Anniversary Davis High School Freshman Boys Basketball Tournament.
Though they suffered a narrow loss in the first game, they were successful in the second, in the consolation bracket, on Monday, Dec. 28, beating Oakdale 55-35. Coach Gilbert Bargas said high scorers for the team included Preston Davidson, with 16 points, Gilbert Bargas with 12, Robert Cunha, 11 points, and Gilberto Jimenez, nine points.
Gilbert said his team lost a close one in the third round, to Beyer High School in Modesto. He said it was a great game, though, right down to the wire. He said at the end “we had a great open look at the basket, but it just didn’t fall for us.”
Cunha led the team with 14 points in that game. The Bruin freshmen lost the last game, 53-51.
All three boys teams were to play against Enochs High on Saturday, Jan. 2, but no scores had been reported at press time.
On Tuesday, Jan 5, league play was to begin with a trip to Mountain House to take on the Mustangs. The boys teams are scheduled to host the Escalon Cougars in Friday night action, Jan. 8. On Saturday, Jan. 9, the Bruins were to travel to Liberty Ranch in Galt for non-league play. They’re scheduled to host Ripon Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
RHS Girls Basketball
On Tuesday evening, Dec. 29, the Lady Bruins varsity and JV girls hosted Bret Harte High School of Angels Camp.
In the early game, the JV girls were down 22-11 at the end of the half, and behind 35-17 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth frame, Riverbank fought back, holding Bret Harte to just four more points, but ultimately, they lost to the JV Lady Bullfrogs, 39-26.
The varsity girls led 24-16 at the half against Bret Harte, advancing to 35-28 at the end of the third quarter, then finishing strong at 44-39 in the end over the Lady Bullfrogs.
On Saturday, Jan. 2, RHS girls hosted Sierra High School of Manteca.
In the JV game, although fielding just five players, the Little Lady Bruins got the first two points on the board, but ended the first quarter down, 14-4. They ultimately lost to the Little Lady Timberwolves, 48-9.
On the varsity side, Riverbank senior Sierra Nabors scored the first 13, unanswered points of the game, with three 3-pointers and two 2-pointers to start things off. They ended the first frame ahead, 13-10, but Sierra tied the score with a little more than a minute left in the half, ending it up 24-21.
From there it was a battle for the Lady Bruins to stay in contention, as they slipped to 39-25 by the end of the third quarter, ending the game losing 50-33 to the Lady Timberwolves.
Girls basketball was to host Mountain House on Tuesday, Jan. 5, and Escalon on Thursday, Jan. 7 to open up Trans-Valley League action. The varsity and JV girls are scheduled to travel to Ripon Christian High School on Tuesday, Jan. 12, then host Hilmar on Friday, Jan. 15. There is no longer a freshman girls team.
Middle School Basketball
With the resumption of school this week, Cardozo Middle School sixth and seventh grade boys basketball practices return. Their first game is scheduled at home against El Portal, the first of seven home games for the season.
They’re scheduled to start at 3:45 p.m.
