RIPON — Ripon kept the pressure on visiting Johansen throughout the game Wednesday, so much so that until the Vikings got their final basket in the closing seconds they had more turnovers than points.
The Indians ran away with a non-league 44-27 girls basketball win.
“We put a little pressure on them throughout the whole game,” Ripon coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “We tried some new stuff and we were hoping that would force them to turn the ball over and then we could hold their scoring down.”
The Indians (3-0) had 13 turnovers to 27 for Johansen (1-4).
“We need to do a better job of controlling the basketball,” Inderbitzei said. “Having 13 turnovers is a good night for us, though. Two out of the three games we have played we have been in the high 20s and for us to beat a good team we have to keep the turnovers down.
“I think we have some kids that can run up and down the floor so we can put some pressure on some teams.”
The score was tied 7-7 after the first quarter. Ripon scored the first nine points of the second period and the first 10 of the third.
Kayla Jacklich helped spearhead the third-quarter charge for the Indians, getting four rebounds, three steals and two assists in the period.
“Our team didn’t play as well in the first half as we all wanted to,” Jacklich said. “So, we had a pep talk at halftime and in the third quarter we got after it.”
Ripon’s Mia Van Lewen posted a double-double and led the Indians in both categories with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
“We all played well and got good passes in,” Van Lewen said. “And confidence helps me with my shot.”
Katie Kaiser picked up six of her eight points for the Indians in the fourth quarter and she had eight rebounds.
“It’s still early in the season so we have a lot more time to improve,” Kaiser said. “But we need to move the ball around more and get the open looks when we see them.”
The Vikings’ Koleka Felt led all scorers with 19 points along with eight rebounds and four steals.
Ripon was 10 for 10 from the free-throw line.
“That’s huge,” Inderbitzin said. “Against Manteca we were 2 of 13 from the line and some other games we were around 50 percent.
“Mia Van Lewen did a good job of hitting her free throws tonight and she had some nice shots.”
Things have not been going right for the Indians off the court this week.
“We’ve been sick,” Inderbitzin said. “I was really concerned about tonight’s game. We have had the flu and been sick all the way from the weekend to today.
“I was concerned about that and we were missing two starters, Reina Sausedo and Savannah Clark and both of them are all-league players. One had a choir concert and the other had a calf injury, so I thought we did a good job considering those guys were out.”
Sophomore
Johansen 37, Ripon 33
The Vikings scored five points in the final 14 seconds to secure the come-from-behind win.
Myra Toledo led the Indians with 12 points and Lilly Majia added eight.
