The Riverbank High School Lady Bruin varsity basketball team had a tough season opener, falling to Oakdale by a 73-31 score on Nov. 27 at home.
"It looked like we hadn't played basketball before, and Oakdale played well," said head coach Scott Ericksen. "They made us a bit flustered. We went 8-21 from the free throw line (38 percent), and you can't do that against that team."
Riverbank was within 12-9 in the first quarter, paced by six points from sophomore Courtney Brock, who had 10 points overall. But Oakdale led 16-9 after one, and stretched it to 35-19 at halftime.
Riverbank was outscored 20-11 in the third quarter, and 18-1 in the fourth quarter of the lopsided defeat.
"(Oakdale's) Alicia Reid created problems because she's so fast off the dribble," Ericksen said. "She got us in foul trouble."
Brock had 10 points, Monica Cardenas scored seven and Sonia Naranjo hit a 3-pointer to lead the Lady Bruins. Nicole Fantone had four points, while Janet Moya and Julissa Perez both scored three.
Cardenas, Naranjo and Perez are all returning starters, but Riverbank currently faces some injuries.
"We're kind of short-handed," Ericksen said. "This is just a bump in the road. It's hard to face that pressure with seven girls."
Riverbank looks to bounce back this week. The Lady Bruins played Johansen on Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the CIF Foundation game, and head to the Escalon Tournament on Wednesday through Friday before returning home to face Gustine on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
"It looked like we hadn't played basketball before, and Oakdale played well," said head coach Scott Ericksen. "They made us a bit flustered. We went 8-21 from the free throw line (38 percent), and you can't do that against that team."
Riverbank was within 12-9 in the first quarter, paced by six points from sophomore Courtney Brock, who had 10 points overall. But Oakdale led 16-9 after one, and stretched it to 35-19 at halftime.
Riverbank was outscored 20-11 in the third quarter, and 18-1 in the fourth quarter of the lopsided defeat.
"(Oakdale's) Alicia Reid created problems because she's so fast off the dribble," Ericksen said. "She got us in foul trouble."
Brock had 10 points, Monica Cardenas scored seven and Sonia Naranjo hit a 3-pointer to lead the Lady Bruins. Nicole Fantone had four points, while Janet Moya and Julissa Perez both scored three.
Cardenas, Naranjo and Perez are all returning starters, but Riverbank currently faces some injuries.
"We're kind of short-handed," Ericksen said. "This is just a bump in the road. It's hard to face that pressure with seven girls."
Riverbank looks to bounce back this week. The Lady Bruins played Johansen on Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the CIF Foundation game, and head to the Escalon Tournament on Wednesday through Friday before returning home to face Gustine on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
