Escalon exploded for seven first-half 3-pointers Wednesday night, building a 14-point halftime lead on the way to a 58-47 in Trans-Valley League play over visiting Ripon.
The outcome helped Ripon Christian clinch the outright championship with one more game remaining.
“We shot the ball poorly tonight,” Ripon coach Dean Balcao said. “It doesn’t help when Marcus (Madoski) didn’t play the first half.
“We have to make out layups and we have to play better defense. We only had two 3-pointers all night.”
Escalon (6-5 TVL, 16-11 overall) added one more from beyond the arc in the second half to finish with eight, while Ripon (8-3, 16-11) finished with just two 3-pointers.
Madoski (10 points) scored six points in the third quarter to add a little spark to Ripon in the second half with the Indians closing to within 10 points twice in the third quarter. Ripon’s Logan Lefebvre scored five of his game-high 18 points in the third period and tallied a double-double with 11 rebounds. Teammate Tanner Hickman (seven points) pulled down 15 rebounds.
The high-water mark for the Indians came in the fourth quarter when Ethan Baur (10 points) converted a three-point play to draw within 48-41. Ripon would come no closer.
“They are a heck of a team,” Cougars coach Nate Bartelink said. “Madoski sat out the first half, so that helped us. We shared the ball, we shot the ball well, we played with good energy.
“Beating Ripon is never easy. We had to earn this one. We haven’t necessarily put together a full game against a good team, and I think we were pretty close to that tonight, so hopefully we can build on that for the playoffs. They are a great team and they are coached very, very well, and they will be a tough out in the playoffs.”
Logan Huebner paced Escalon with a double-double at 14 points with 14 rebounds. Daniel Gonzalez added 13 points.
The loss keeps the Indians in a second-place tie with Sonora. On Friday, the Wildcats wrap up league play hosting first-place Ripon Christian at 7, while Ripon hosts fifth-place Hilmar at 7:30.
Ripon Christian 54, Orestimba 38
Even with its top scorer missing a second straight game, Ripon Christian (10-1, 21-5 overall) took care of business at home Wednesday to secure an outright claim to the TVL title — the Knights’ fifth in a row. They cap the regular season Friday at Sonora (8-3, 17-10).
Orestimba (3-8, 8-19) provided some resistance, trailing just 23-20 at halftime. Ripon Christian bolted out to a 13-0 run to start the third quarter and later put it away with nine unanswered points in the fourth.
Amos Cady registered 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Mason Tameling made three 3s, finishing with 16 points. Walker Postma produced nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. EJ Bruno (six points, 10 rebounds, block) and Chase Bunnell (two points, eight rebounds) were also key in the post. Jake Vander Veen missed a second straight game to rest an injured knee.
