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GIRLS HOOPS: Holland's 4th-quarter burst propels Indians to 1st win
Bulletin sports 2020-21
Ripon's Grace Mikami (11) shoots over Ripon Christian's Natasha Smith (44). - photo by GARY JENSEN/GreatShots.SmugMug.com

The Ripon girls basketball team hitched its wagon to Kiley Holland on Thursday night and she did not disappoint by scoring 13 of her team’s 15 fourth-quarter points on the way to securing the first Indians win of the year by downing visiting Ripon Christian 39-36 in Valley Oak League action. 

“She stepped up in the fourth quarter,” Ripon coach Rick Indertbitzin said of Holland. “She wanted to get this win tonight. 

“With her being a senior she only has so many games left and she wanted to put it on her shoulders and take control. I was very proud of the way she knocked down some shots and helped our team get its first victory of the year.”

Holland (17 points) was held scoreless in the first half and came to in the third quarter, scoring four points. She went on a 10-2 run to start the final period, giving the Indians (1-6 VOL) the lead for good with 5:23 left in the game.

“I was tired of not making my shots in the first half,” Holland said. “And this feels good.

“I have always loved playing against RC because it is always a fun game. I just gave it my all.”

Makenzie Loechler added 10 points for Ripon.

“We finally got some fire under us in the second half,” Loechler said. “We wanted to win this one because it was going to be our first win.”

After combining for just 26 first-half points, the two teams shot out of the gate in the second half, totaling 21 points in the first four minutes of the third period. 

“RC can shoot the three ball when they get hot,” Inderbitzin said. “We didn’t do a good job of finding our man and getting out on them and they knocked down like four in a row to start the second half.” 

The Knights (1-6) went from hot to cold in a hurry to start the fourth quarter, watching a three-point lead after three periods evaporate into a six-point deficit midway through the final quarter. 

“We missed the next four 3-pointers after hitting those first four,” Ripon Christian coach Mike Vander Molen said. “The bottom line is they played better defense. We had a lot of contested shots and they had a lot of open shots. 

“I thought that was a big difference and Kiley (Holland) made some big baskets on her own and we didn’t get that.”

Mikaela Vander Molen led the Knights and shared high-point honors with Holland at 17 points. Lydia Bakker added eight points for Ripon Christian.


Junior varsity

Sierra 35, Ripon 33

The Indians narrowed the gap late in the non-league contest but could not catch the Timberwolves.

Sonya Gill paced Sierra with 11 points.

Ripon’s Cami Hudson earned high-point honors with 12 points. Teammate Vanessa Ponce added 11 points behind three 3-pointers.