By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Reserve player pulls through For Bruin Varsity Basketball
Placeholder Image
A reserve center helped Riverbank High School win a rousing home game against Patterson in varsity boys basketball Friday.

"One of our centers could not play and Brad Williams stepped in. He was our leading rebounder with six rebounds, and he scored a couple of points. We may not have won without him," said Bruin coach Jeff Jennings.

Riverbank won the game, 56-46, after taking a 9-2 lead in the first quarter, losing the second period by 14-13, and taking the third period, 18-15.

Patterson holds second place in the league after Ripon, to whom Riverbank lost, 67-64, on Tuesday.

"Both teams played hard," Jennings said of the Patterson game. "They both have an aggressive defense, a man to man, which keeps the scoring low."

High point man for Riverbank was Drew Villalobos, with 12 points. He was followed by Adan Mercado and Brandon Worsham, with 10 points, and Eddie Silva, Jon Blount and Kevin Cole, with six each.

As the Bruin team comes together, their coach noted, the scoring is getting spread around and different players are contributing in different games.

Riverbank posted five 3-pointers, two of them by Cole and one each by Mercado, Villalobos and Blount.

The Bruins sank eight of 11 attempts from the free throw line.

The loss to Ripon on Tuesday was against a team that is unbeaten and sitting on top of the league. The loss also was only by three points.

"It was a good game. We just came up short. I was happy with the effort. We're in fourth place now, with a 4-4 record," said Jennings.

Riverbank actually led Ripon, 31-30, at halftime, but dropped behind in the third quarter when Ripon made a 21-13 rush.

Mercado was the Bruins high scorer, with 18 points. Blount scored 16; Cole, 10; and Villalobos, 7. Of Riverbank's 11 3-pointers, Mercado hit four; Cole, three; and Blount, two.