After coming out and establishing themselves as a serious threat in any Trans-Valley League gym with an impressive 19-point first quarter against Ripon High, the Bruin varsity basketball boys faltered with a uncanny three-point second quarter on their way to consecutive TVL losses to fall to 1-3 in league action.
Riverbank opened play against the Ripon Indians on Jan. 8 doing everything right, but could only watch as the Indians responded with 28 points over the next two periods while the Bruins could only muster up nine.
The Bruins came out of the gate blistering, connecting on four 3-pointers in the opening period, but could not keep pace as the Indians got hot behind a game-high 15 points from leader Matt Ratto.
The Bruins' woes continued as they followed up the Ripon loss with a tough four-point loss to the visiting Escalon Cougars on Friday night, Jan. 11. The final score was 55-51 in favor of the visitors. Francisco Pineda paced the Bruins with 16 points but got most of them in the first half. Escalon then keyed on him and effectively took him away as a threat, coming back to take the win.
The road continued to be a hard one, with the Bruins slated to play at Modesto Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 15 after The News went to press. They get back on the home court on Friday, but will face off with a talented Hughson team in the Jan. 18 contest.
The Huskies are currently 10-3 overall, but have found the TVL to be a tough go, with a 2-2 record. A win against the Huskies at home will put the Bruins in the thick of things in TVL play.
The freshman game will start off the evening at 5 p.m., followed by the JV contest at 6:30 p.m. and the varsity taking the court at 8 p.m.
Riverbank opened play against the Ripon Indians on Jan. 8 doing everything right, but could only watch as the Indians responded with 28 points over the next two periods while the Bruins could only muster up nine.
The Bruins came out of the gate blistering, connecting on four 3-pointers in the opening period, but could not keep pace as the Indians got hot behind a game-high 15 points from leader Matt Ratto.
The Bruins' woes continued as they followed up the Ripon loss with a tough four-point loss to the visiting Escalon Cougars on Friday night, Jan. 11. The final score was 55-51 in favor of the visitors. Francisco Pineda paced the Bruins with 16 points but got most of them in the first half. Escalon then keyed on him and effectively took him away as a threat, coming back to take the win.
The road continued to be a hard one, with the Bruins slated to play at Modesto Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 15 after The News went to press. They get back on the home court on Friday, but will face off with a talented Hughson team in the Jan. 18 contest.
The Huskies are currently 10-3 overall, but have found the TVL to be a tough go, with a 2-2 record. A win against the Huskies at home will put the Bruins in the thick of things in TVL play.
The freshman game will start off the evening at 5 p.m., followed by the JV contest at 6:30 p.m. and the varsity taking the court at 8 p.m.
