Defensive backfield shines vs. air attack

Offense might win games, but it was defense that allowed Sierra to hold off a prolific Benicia passing attack that was unlike anything the team has seen so far this year.

T’Wolves don’t miss a beat behind back-up QB

It's one thing to run the opposing team's offense during scout-team practice, and it's another guiding a team to a second-round Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Football playoff victory.

READY OR NOT

Fortunes have followed the Ripon High volleyball team for the majority of its 2009 season, but the squads' blessings took new heights when its second-round opponent, Notre Dame High of Salinas, knocked off No. 2 seed Salesian, handing the Indians home court advantage for the CIF NorCal Championship match Saturday.

NO HOLIDAY BREAK FOR TIMBERWOLVES

The Sierra Timberwolves have reason to be thankful. The Sac-Joaquin Section's third-seeded Division III playoff team will celebrate Thanksgiving with practice starting at 9 this morning. Sierra (10-1) is preparing for its second-round matchup with No. 6 Benicia (9-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium. After qualifying for the section playoffs for the first time in its 14th varsity season in 2008, head coach Jeff Harbison is grateful that his ...

EAST UNION OPENS WITH WIN

Shalane Jackson gave a nice glimpse of what to expect from her sophomore season, leading East Union High to a season-opening 49-34 win over the visiting Bear Creek Bruins Wednesday at the Dalben Center.

Seven area players on all-TVL team

The loss of record-holding goal scorer Eric Cavanaugh had little effect on Ripon this season. The Indians repeated their third-place finish in the Trans Valley League, set a new program record with 21 single-season overall victories and five players were named to the all-conference first team. Rival Ripon Christian had two players named to the first team. Senior Matty Gay and freshman Arik Anaya picked up where Cavanaugh left off. Gay, who holds the frosh-soph ...

END OF THE ROAD

RIPON - Ripon Christian showed it more than deserved its berth into the CIF Northern California Division V State Volleyball Championships, yet the Knights were unable to extend their magical season after a four-game loss (11-25, 25-22, 13-25 and 18-25) to Castilleja of Palo Alto.

Ripon hosting second-round match after easy win

COTTONWOOD - The trip ended up being much longer than the match. Ripon did what was expected in a four-game victory (25-23, 25-14, 16-25, 25-22) over North Section champion West Valley to open the Northern California Regional Division IV Championships Tuesday. Head coach Larry Keethe wasn't too happy with his team's effort in the third game, however. "They were pretty much packed up and ready to go home," he said. Fortunately for the Indians (38-10), ...

Cougars drop season opener to McNair

STOCKTON – The Weston Ranch Cougars had a strong sense of how they wanted their season to get underway, but the McNair Eagles had a different agenda beating the Cougars 54-50 in both teams' season opener.

Ripon teams return to NorCal tourney with high hopes

Tiger Shelton sees Ripon Christian's first-round draw in the CIF State Northern California Championships as a good news-bad news proposition.

EAST UNION FALL AWARDS

BUFFALOES BUCKLE LATE

Friday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff opener between No. 8 Manteca and No. 9 Casa Roble at Guss Schmiedt Field didn't start out to be the game it was anticipated to be.

Sierra cruises into quarterfinal round

It was business as usual Friday for Sierra High. In the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Division III section playoffs, the No. 3 Timberwolves simply overpowered No. 14 Mira Loma of the Capital League at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium, rolling to a 59-6 win. "We just asked for intensity coming into this game," Sierra coach Jeff Harbison said. "I'm proud of the fact we were able to do just that." Business as usual included fullback ...

Turnovers, sloppy field doom Ripon in anticipated rematch

TUOLOMNE - They call it the great equalizer. After Summerville its only loss of the season in a Week 2 non-league contest, soggy conditions at Thorstead Field turned the tables on Ripon Friday. The host Bears avenged the earlier defeat with a 33-0 shocker, knocking Ripon out of the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-B playoffs. While the inclement weather did not help, it was not an excuse made by Ripon head coach ...

EASY AS 1-2-3

DAVIS - Ripon Christian had not lost a postseason game, let alone a match, leading up to its Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship-round meeting against top-seeded Bradshaw Christian.

Brink leads EU to VOL championship

Will Brink punctuated his decorated four-year run in the Valley Oak League with multiple titles Wednesday at Livermore's Poppy Ridge Golf Course.

ACE BAFFLES BUFFS

With the Valley Oak League championship and a postseason berth already out of reach, Manteca High had little to play for but pride Wednesday when the Buffaloes travelled across town to meet Sierra.

MHS freshman competing in section trials

How's this for degree of difficulty: To find Manteca High's only diver in recent history you'll have to travel to Tracy High.

RC avoids loss with last-minute goal in SL finale

RIPON – Mariposa was on the verge of spoiling Ripon Christian's senior day and Southern League finale on Wednesday.

East Union, Ripon Christian honor seniors with wins

Four East Union seniors came through with clutch plays on Senior Night Wednesday at Northgate Softball Complex, where the Lancers squeaked out a 7-6 extra-inning victory over Weston Ranch.

Ripon ousted by Orestimba in TVL contest

Ripon came up short on the road against Orestimba Newman on Wednesday and failed to record any RBIs during its fourth Trans Valley League loss.

RC falls short of clinching outright title

The Ripon Christian Knights will get one more shot at clinching the outright Southern League baseball title.

GONE WITH THE WIND

Freshman Leah Manuleleua reached out for sister Sialei's right hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as the two walked off gusty Guss Schmiedt Field Tuesday night.

Lancers down Manteca with sights set on VOL title

It all comes down to today's winner-take-all Valley Oak League Championships at Livermore's Poppy Ridge Golf Course.

Ripon rolls to third straight TVL title

Ripon didn't play its best, but it was plenty good enough to clinch its third straight Trans-Valley League championship.

MOVING ON

Weston Ranch punched its ticket into the quarterfinal of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II boys tennis tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

Manteca still in hunt for VOL, cruises past Kimball

Manteca bounced back from consecutive losses against Oakdale last week and took out its frustration on Kimball Tuesday.

BUFFS SMASH LIVINGSTON

Manteca High's boys tennis team ended a four-year slide in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II playoffs with Monday's commanding 8-1 victory over Western Athletic Conference No. 3 seed Livingston at Manteca Regional Tennis Center.

Manteca fighting for playoff berth against shorthanded EU

Going into the regular-season finale between East Union and Manteca girls soccer teams there's plenty of intrigue beyond feuding neighbors.

Ripon Christian begins postseason after conquering Southern League

RIPON – For Tami Kamper and the Ripon Christian tennis team, the matches will get infinitely harder beginning with the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Tournament.