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Trans-Valley League Play Starts For Bruin Squads
TEIXEIRA
Riverbank junior Aliza Teixeira, 3, is nearly tied up as she tries to get a fourth quarter shot off in Thursdays TVL varsity girls basketball game at home against Ripon Christian. After leading most of the game, the Lady Bruins seemed to run out of steam, falling 56-50 to the Lady Knights. Ric McGinnis/The News

The first week of January brought the beginning of the Trans-Valley League high school regular winter sports schedule, with several games and matches, both boys and girls basketball and soccer, at home and away even though classes didn’t resume until Monday. Jan. 9.

First up, following the holiday on Jan. 2, both boys and girls basketball teams saw action on Tuesday, Jan. 3 with the Bruins hosting Escalon in the first TVL game of the 2017 season, while the girls teams traveled to Escalon.

The varsity Bruins easily handled the Cougars, leading 17-8 after the first quarter and never looking back, finishing with a 65-47 victory. The JV team fell, 63-18, in the earlier game. The youngest Bruins fought hard but came up a bit short against the visiting Cougars, 59-50.

The varsity girls, on the same night, traveled to Escalon, losing 60-22 to the Lady Cougars. The Lady Bruins roster includes 11 juniors and a sophomore.

On Thursday, Jan. 5, both basketball teams saw action again, with the boys teams traveling to Ripon Christian High School, while their girls teams came here.

Riverbank boys fought hard against last year’s league champs, coming out on top with a 54-50 final over the Knights. The JVs fell 61-39, while the Riverbank frosh came out on top, 43-37.

The Lady Bruins hosted RCHS at the same time, coming close to the Lady Knights, but falling 56-50, nonetheless.

On Wednesday last week, Jan. 4, the Lady Bruin varsity soccer team hosted Escalon in a light, mist-like rain. Unfortunately, RHS varsity girls fell, 6-0. There is no JV team this year.

The varsity boys headed to Escalon the same day and came up short, 5-1, with several players for the Bruins not returning to the team yet from the holiday break. The JV boys took a 5-3 win over host Escalon.

This week, RHS boys soccer was to host the Mountain House Mustangs on Monday, Jan. 9, then travel to Hughson today, Jan. 11.

Girls soccer was to play at Mountain House on Monday, then host Hughson today.

Boys basketball was to travel to Hilmar on Tuesday, then to Ripon High School on Jan. 17. They won’t be home again until Jan. 20, hosting Hughson for the Homecoming Game.

Girls basketball was to host the Lady Yellowjackets of Hilmar yesterday, then travel to Merced to take on the Lady Gauchos of El Capitan High School on Friday, Jan. 13.