RIPON — The Ripon Christian Knights made it rain 3s Wednesday against Gustine.
Try 11 from beyond the arc in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs.
The Knights (19-9), playing up in competition after winning the Division VI crown last year, delivered on six treys in the opening quarter during their 84-33 dismantling of the Southern League Reds (9-16).
"They wanted to get back on the court after last week's poor shooting night (against local rival Ripon High)," said RC coach Mark Hofman.
His team struggled from the field in that Trans-Valley League finale, hitting a woeful 1 for 18 from the 3-point line.
The Knights wasted little time to prove that point. They got out of the gate in a hurry with Will Gilbert connecting twice on treys followed by Caleb Terpstra hitting one from the corner.
Jacob Van Groningen also added two during Ripon Christian's 11-0 run to open the game.
The Knights used crisp passing as well, as Van Groningen and Terpstra both found Brock Nunes on consecutive baskets on backdoor cuts.
Van Groningen, in addition, joined in the 3-point shooting spree, delivering on a pair from distance.
RC closed out the first by going on a 16-0 run, taking an overwhelming 31-4 lead into the second quarter.
"We just tried to be consistent," Hofman said.
The Knights continued to pour it on, with Cade Alger, Lukas Van Groningen, Jeriah Hoag, Reed Van Der Hoek and Gilbert, who also completed a three-point play, being part of that 13-0 run to make it 46-9 at the midway point.
RC saw contributions from its entire roster including the sophomore additions from the TVL junior varsity champion squad.
In the third, Gilbert closed out his scoring night by hitting a free throw for his game-high 18 points. That output was more than the entire Reds, who trailed 60-17 at that point.
RC's 72-24 lead at the start of the fourth was cause for a running clock. Gustine, the No. 13-seeded team, did call for a timeout in the final two minutes but only to insert Thomas Gomes.
The autistic player for the Reds managed a field goal in his final game.
Besides Gilbert, the Knights got 12 points from Alger, who had six rebounds and a steal, and 11 from Nunes, who also hauled in six boards.
Jacob Van Groningen finished with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
RC will play host to fifth-seeded Mariposa (23-5) on Friday.