Putting together a solid week, Riverbank’s varsity soccer boys started with a 2-2 tie at home, hosting Linden on Jan. 20. They were back on the home field two days later, Jan. 22, and crafted a 3-0 win over Big Valley Christian. Both were Mother Lode Leage games.

“Tuesday, we played Linden to a 2-2 draw. The game was a close fought match and the result showed that,” said head coach Juan Harvey. “We got a first half goal from Valentino Garcia and a second half goal via a penalty kick from captain Adriel Medina.”

Thursday’s contest saw the Big Valley Christian team come to town – a team that Riverbank shut out 11-0 in their first meeting.

“Although the result the first time around was lopsided, they came to play,” Harvey explained of the Lions. “We struggled to find our touch in the first half and led 1-0 at halftime on a breakaway goal by Osbaldo Morales.”

Working to protect the 1-0 lead, the Riverbank offense also enjoyed a surge in the second half.

“We were able to get more shots on goal and capitalized on two chances, ending the game with a 3-0 win,” Harvey noted.

Morales scored his second goal of the day in the second half, with the other tally from captain Victor Bermudez.

GIRLS SOCCER

Two shutout wins were featured this week for the Lady Bruins on the pitch. They were at Linden on Jan. 20, winning 3-0, and shut down Big Valley Christian in a 4-0 final on Jan. 22. Raquel Jimenez (2) and Emmah Montes (1) were the goal scorers against Linden, and Montes added an assist.

In the win over Big Valley, it was Montes with the hat track, scoring three goals and adding an assist; while Jimenez had one goal and three assists, the two combining for all the Riverbank goals on the day.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Splitting their games for the week, the varsity basketball Bruins entered the week at 2-2 in Mother Lode League play, 10-9 overall.

“On Tuesday (Jan. 20), we played at Summerville and won 45-43,” said head coach Jason Herrera. “We played very well defensively throughout and were able to put together a strong third quarter on offense to take an eight-point lead. We were able to make a defensive stand on their last possession to seal the victory.”

The boys then had a home game on Friday, Jan. 23.

“We lost at home to Big Valley Christian, 63-57. We shot the ball very well from three-point range, but weren’t consistent enough with getting the ball inside on offense,” Herrera admitted.

The game was tied at halftime, 29-29.

“Opposite of Tuesday, we weren’t very sharp in the third quarter and we got down by double digits,” said the coach.

Big Valley went on a 26-8 run in the third and Riverbank battled back in the final quarter, outscoring the visitors 20-8, but were not quite able to catch up.

“We cut the lead to four points with under a minute to go, but that’s as close as we got,” Herrera said.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

At home for a game against Summerville on Jan. 20, it was a 70-23 victory for the varsity Lady Bruins on the basketball court.

“We beat Summerville with senior Leilani Olanolan leading the way with 31 points,” said coach Janelle Luu.

The girls ran out to a 25-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. Paloma Reyes was also in double figures with 12 points.

Friday, the girls were home and welcomed the Lady Lions of Big Valley to town.

“We beat Big Valley Christian 65-11, with all ten players on the rosters scoring a bucket,” noted Luu. “This was the first time this happened all season.”