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.

Banner day for RC boys golf, girls soccer

Ripon Christian's boys golf team got even with Southern League rival Turlock Christian in the conference tournament Monday at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

Ripon eyes postseason titles

Nick Sharp could feel the shadow cast and left behind by arguably the most gifted golfer to play for Ripon High's tradition rich boys program.

MANTECA MASHES LATHROP

Celina Cooper needed just two innings to rack up six RBIs, and Peyton Rose twirled a mercy-shortened three-hitter as Manteca walloped visiting Lathrop 17-0 Friday.

RHS holds off Orestimba to clinch playoff berth

Those pesky Warriors from Orestimba were at it again.

Wilson slugs Sierra to needed win

Marc Wilson had a huge game from the plate on Thursday.

BETTER IN TWOS

Yok Jing Ma repeats as a champion, while Angel Tejada gets to go out as one.

Lancers dominate in win over Wildcats

East Union is starting to peak at the right time.

Ripon perfect heading into TVL tourney

Nick Sharp brought his best to Stevinson Ranch on Thursday.

Dyrda shuts down Manteca for Oakdale sweep

Manteca lost its outright grip on the top spot in the Valley Oak League with its 3-1 defeat at Oakdale Thursday.

Ripon mashes Modesto Christian in five

Ripon made quick work of visiting Modesto Christian on Thursday, amassing seven runs in the second inning en route to a 10-0 mercy-shortened win. The Indians plated their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end it early.

MANTECA BOYS SOAR PAST EU FOR TITLE

The top sprinters on the Manteca High boys track and field team were nursing injuries in the Buffaloes' final Valley Oak League dual meet at East Union Wednesday.

Ripon, Rogers roll past Riverbank

RIPON – Ripon's Josh Clark and Fotios Jordanoglou had solid games defensively Wednesday.

Manteca’s playoff chances dim after lopsided defeat

Selena Gonzalez's RBI single in the top of the first inning gave Manteca some needed early momentum on the road.