It was a successful, exciting night for the Riverbank varsity basketball teams and their fans on Friday, Feb. 6, as both the boys and girls put Homecoming wins on the books against Linden.
For the varsity girls, it was an overpowering win, 74-16, while the boys found themselves down at the half but turned things up a notch in the third and fourth quarters to take a victory.
“We beat Linden 75-66 for Homecoming. It was a great crowd and atmosphere which gave our team a lot of energy,” said varsity boys head coach Jason Herrera. “To their credit, Linden came out and played well. We turned up the defensive intensity in the third quarter, led by Esteban Caratachea, who gave us a huge spark. That turned the tide of the game for us which ultimately led to the win.”
Luke Castro had 27 points, including seven three-point baskets. Adrian Montes had 17 points, including four treys. Dario Rollaceli had 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The boys earlier defeated Summerville, 64-55, on Feb. 3 at home for Senior Night. Montes and Castro both had 17 points, Rollaceli had 13 points and eight rebounds.
“We had 14 total steals; Castro had five, which got us going offensively in transition,” Herrera said. “It was also our Senior Night, and all eight of our seniors contributed to the win.”
For the varsity girls, the Lady Bruins took the court this week in “dominant fashion,” said head coach Janelle Luu, first beating Summerville 68-20 on Feb. 3, with senior Leilani Olanolan leading the way with 34 points. On Homecoming night, the Lady Bruins took down Linden 74-16. Senior Paloma Reyes led the varsity girls with a career high 29 points.
“As we wrap up league play, it is important that we are playing our best basketball heading into the playoffs,” Luu said, adding that the team is “always striving to get better.”
BOYS SOCCER
The Riverbank varsity soccer boys split their contests this past week. They played against Summerville on Feb. 3, facing a team that had already clinched the Mother Lode League title.
“They’re one of the top teams in the section as well,” said varsity head coach Juan Harvey.
The coach said his team got off to a good start, bringing high energy to the match after celebrating Senior Night.
“It was back and forth until 15 minutes left in the first half when Summerville drew a penalty kick and converted,” Harvey said.
Riverbank drew even early in the second half on a goal from Osbaldo Morales, assisted by Adrian Fernandez.
“Summerville capitalized on a long throw in that their attacker scored on a header from right in front of the goal,” Harvey said of the late second half tally by the Bears, which saw the Bruins taking the hard fought 2-1 loss.
Thursday night, Feb. 5, they closed out the regular season with a game against Linden.
“We carried our high energy from Tuesday and the urgency of trying to finish in the best possible spot going into the playoffs into the match,” Harvey said.
The Bruins did create several scoring opportunities and took care of business against the Lions.
Morales scored on a header off a cross from Eduardo Rosillo in the first half but Linden got it back on a corner kick. Linden then took the lead early in the second half. However, a flurry of goals for the Bruin boys late in the contest earned them the 4-2 win. Enrique Garnica drew a penalty kick, fouled in the box, and captain Adriel Medina took the kick and scored; Morales then scored his second goal of the game off an assist from Garnica; and Luis Alaniz put in the fourth goal of the night.
GIRLS SOCCER
Falling to Summerville on the road, 5-0, the Lady Bruins came home and got a win over Linden.
They faced Summerville on Feb. 3, said coach Javier Luna.
“In the first half, we gave up two goals in the first 10 minutes, then found our footing a little bit for the rest of the half,” said the coach. “Raquel Jimenez took a shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar towards the end of the half that would have given us momentum.”
He noted that his team battled throughout the contest, but Summerville – which went 10-0 in league – scored three more in the second to take the shutout win.
Thursday, Feb. 5 for Senior Night, it was a satisfying victory over visiting Linden, 4-3.
“The girls played a much better game. Though it was an emotional night, we found a way to play through the emotions and get a much-needed win,” Luna said. “It was a battle all game long. Anytime we took a lead, Linden responded with a goal of their own.”
Emmah Montes scored three of the four goals for Riverbank.
“The game was all tied up at 3-3 with about six minutes left in the match, when we got a free kick near half field. Johannah Rosillo put in a great cross towards the back post and Nataly Rivera tapped it in,” Luna explained. “It was a huge moment for Nataly, getting her first goal on Senior Night. The game ended 4-3, and now we prepare for playoffs.”
