Weeks after the end of the formal school year, the Riverbank High School sports teams have played their final games of the 2020-21 season.

June 11, Friday evening put the cap on the COVID-abbreviated sports calendar, with a close but unsuccessful final varsity boys basketball game.

After a hard fought second half, the Bruins gave up their last home game, along with the shortened season, to the visiting Huskies of Hughson, 60-50. Three graduated seniors put on their maroon, grey and black uniforms for the last time.

The day prior, on Thursday, Bruin boys soccer saw its last 2021 match on the home pitch, hosting Hughson, and coming out on top with an 8-0 final score. Fifteen seniors saw their last high school action in that one.

Also ending at home, on Wednesday, June 9, was girls varsity basketball, with Mariposa County’s Lady Grizzlies visiting, and going home with the 39-37 win. No Riverbank seniors played in that game.

On Tuesday, the Lady Bruins also were supposed to host Mariposa in soccer, but that game didn’t happen, so Riverbank’s graduates missed out on their final home match.

In a normal, non-COVID school year, the Bruin Boosters would have prepared senior recognition nights for each team as their seasons ended, but, with this year’s chaos, it was difficult to do so.

Hopefully, coaches, fans and players agree, the 2021-22 school year will be able to return to a new version of ‘normal’ with the Bruins back in the Trans-Valley League and sports returning to their traditional seasons.