Home games began last week for Riverbank’s girls volleyball teams, and both football teams, varsity and JV, notched wins in ‘Thursday Night Lights’ action. It was an historic win for the varsity football team, breaking a 42-game losing streak and getting a satisfying victory on the road.
Lady Bruin Volleyball
Riverbank varsity girls volleyball played in the Orestimba Tournament in Newman on Saturday, Aug. 19, winning against Delhi, but falling to Madera, Downey from Modesto, and Pacheo High from Los Banos. They returned to the home court on Tuesday, Aug. 22 for a first match in the Ray Fauria Memorial Gym of the pre-season. They fell to the Lady Spartans of Grace Davis High School in Modesto, 3-1.
They were to play at Summerville in Tuolumne County last Wednesday, but scores weren’t reported. The girls are set for two more home matches this week, Aug. 30 against the Lady Wildcats of Waterford, and Thursday, Aug. 31 against the Lady Warriors of Orestimba. Next Tuesday, Sept. 5, they’re set to visit Hughson and will host Escalon’s Lady Cougars next Wednesday as Trans-Valley League play begins.
Bruin Football
The varsity boys recorded their first win of the preseason – and their first in several years – last Thursday, Aug. 24 playing on the Cosumnes River College field in Sacramento. They took on the Vikings of Valley High School there and the final score was 28-6 in favor of the Bruins. The victory snapped a 42-game losing streak for the Riverbank High School varsity squad. Their younger counterparts, the JV team, also crafted a victory.
The box score for the game from the Friday before, meanwhile, indicated what a heartbreaker it was as the Bruins fell in a tightly contested game.
On Aug. 18, the Bruins traveled to Tracy to take on the Falcons from Millennium High School, scoring six points in each of the last two quarters. The Falcons also scored six points in the third frame, but were being held near the end of the game by the Bruin defense. Unfortunately, Millennium pulled off a last second TD, followed by a two-point conversion, leaving the final score at 14-12 in favor of the Falcons.
This week, Riverbank will be at home to host its first game of the season, with the Denair Coyotes coming to Angelo Novi Field. The Bruins will have three more home games over the remainder of the season.
Riverbank is between leagues in the California Interscholastic Federation hierarchy, headed to the Mother Lode League in 2024, playing teams mostly in the foothills. As such, this year they are designated an independent team.
Lady Bruin Golf
Girl golfers have been playing on the road, but results have not been reported. Next Tuesday, Sept. 5, they’ll have a match on what is their home course in Escalon, and they’ll be taking on the Escalon Lady Cougars with a 4 p.m. start.
Co-Ed Cross Country
Riverbank runners took part in a scrimmage at Bret Harte High School last Wednesday and will travel to Fresno on Friday to participate in the Central Valley Classic. The first Trans-Valley League meeting is set for next Wednesday, Sept 6 in Ceres.
