A two-point disadvantage in the fourth period was about as even as Riverbank High's varsity girls basketball team (6-9 overall, 1-4 Trans-Valley League) could match-up with playoff-bound Ripon (14-4, 4-1) in a 55-25 defeat at the Ray Fauria Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 20.
Ripon jumped to a 19-5 lead after a quarter of play, and kept the pressure on in the middle two frames before Riverbank could fight to just an 8-10 scoring deficit during the final period.
"Ripon is a very strong team," Riverbank coach Tim Carnes said. "They forced us to play at their tempo on the offensive side, and I would have liked to see more scoring than we had."
Bruin freshman Janelle Luu knocked in a game-high 16 points and held Ripon's leading scorer, Rachel Rodriguez (senior), to just 14. Aimee Felix and Tori Sandoval also scored four points each while Toni Adams chipped in two.
"I have to commend Janelle for her defensive effort in being matched up with a senior post player," Carnes said. "To hold a team like Ripon to 55 points with as short a bench as we have is pretty impressive."
The Bruins were at Hughson on Monday, though results were not available at press time. Riverbank is at Orestimba (9-8, 2-3) on Thursday. The two teams battled to a 52-48 Warriors win on Jan. 10.
"I truly believe we can beat every team we face in league, outside of Ripon and Modesto Christian (5-0 TVL)," Carnes said. "I just want to continue to see the girls play hard as a team and not make soft plays."
Ripon jumped to a 19-5 lead after a quarter of play, and kept the pressure on in the middle two frames before Riverbank could fight to just an 8-10 scoring deficit during the final period.
"Ripon is a very strong team," Riverbank coach Tim Carnes said. "They forced us to play at their tempo on the offensive side, and I would have liked to see more scoring than we had."
Bruin freshman Janelle Luu knocked in a game-high 16 points and held Ripon's leading scorer, Rachel Rodriguez (senior), to just 14. Aimee Felix and Tori Sandoval also scored four points each while Toni Adams chipped in two.
"I have to commend Janelle for her defensive effort in being matched up with a senior post player," Carnes said. "To hold a team like Ripon to 55 points with as short a bench as we have is pretty impressive."
The Bruins were at Hughson on Monday, though results were not available at press time. Riverbank is at Orestimba (9-8, 2-3) on Thursday. The two teams battled to a 52-48 Warriors win on Jan. 10.
"I truly believe we can beat every team we face in league, outside of Ripon and Modesto Christian (5-0 TVL)," Carnes said. "I just want to continue to see the girls play hard as a team and not make soft plays."
