ESCALON – Tyler Goslinga scored 31 points and Ripon Christian avenged an early Trans Valley League loss with an 82-73 win over Escalon Tuesday night.
The Cougars took a 22-16 lead into the second, before RC head coach Ron Vander Molen called for a defensive switch.
“We went to man,” Vander Molen said. “That seemed to make the difference.”
Daniel Van De Pol ran the point perfectly, and Goslinga was the main benefactor as Escalon inexplicably left the big man open on more than one opportunity.
Van De Pol finished with 17, and David Vander Schaaf added 14.
“Goslinga did an excellent job of finishing,” Vander Molen said. “He was on the receiving end of a lot of good passes.”
Ripon Christian (4-3 TVL, 13-10) hosts Hughson Friday.
The Indians battled back from a 9-1 deficit to start the contest and enjoyed a four-point lead heading into the decisive frame.
Efren Sifuentes ( 2 3-pointers) led the way with 14 and Matthew Ratto scored six of his 10 in the fourth.
Ryan Alexander had 12 and Ryan Baker eight.
“It was a disappointing loss,” Ripon head coach Rod Wright said. “But Riverbank played hard all game and if you don’t play hard, you’ll get beat.
“We didn’t take care of the opportunities we had.”
Ripon shot 7 of 15 from the free throw line and sank just a pair of 3-pointers to Riverbank’s seven.