Ripon got its revenge, and standout guard Reina Sausedo gets to play at least one more game in her decorated four-year career.
Sausedo amassed 26 points and 18 rebounds, leading the sixth-seeded Indians’ 58-45 victory over Sonoma State-bound Alli McDonald and visiting Union Mine on Tuesday. They’ll next travel to No. 3 Calaveras for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV quarterfinals Thursday.
“We won every quarter and played real well down the stretch,” Ripon coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “IT was great to redeem ourselves from last year’s second-round loss at Union Mine.”
Last year, the then-fourth-seeded Diamondbacks — they checked in as the No. 11 seed Tuesday — survived a second-round scare from Ripon 60-58 before reaching the section’s Division IV final and NorCal Division III final.
The rematch was well contested through two-plus quarters until Ripon (20-8) was able to slowly break away with free throws. McDonald kept the Diamondbacks (13-12) of El Dorado in it with her 37 points, shooting 15-for-17 from the foul line.
“She is the real deal,” Inderbitzin said of the 6-foot-1 guard. “She can shoot, dribble and pass to her open teammates. It was a real treat to see her and Reina compete. Reina did her thing.”
Sausedo has scored 1,689 points for her career.
Kiley Holland contributed 13 points and was among the Ripon players tasked with guarding the talented McDonald. Mikaylah Vaught chipped in eight points.
Lathrop 64, El Dorado 26
PLACERVILLE — Kierstin Constantino splashed down a long-distance 3-pointer to open scoring for No. 15 Lathrop (14-15), but it was all El Dorado (21-7) from there.
The second-seeded Cougars overwhelmed the Spartans with their length and versatility, getting 16 points from 6-foot center Kim Quicksall. They outscored Lathrop 14-4 in the second quarter for a 28-12 halftime lead and went off for 21 points in the fourth.
“I’ve never been more proud of a group of girls,” Spartans coach Dwayne Davis said. “There was no drama with this team and they grew together. Nobody thought we’d come close to the playoffs but they believed in the process and worked.
“We just ran into a buzz saw tonight.”
Division III
East Union 59, El Capitan 36
The No. 4 Lancers (25-4) are ready for round 3 against Merced after taking care of the No. 13 Gauchos (15-14).
Leading 29-22 at halftime, East Union clamped down defensively and surged to an 18-6 third quarter. Ala Tu’uga led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds, Lani Tu’uga had 15 points and nine boards, and Kyshanti King registered 15 points.
Caly Curran paced El Capitan with 18 points.
Fifth-seeded Merced (25-3) visits Dalben Center for a second time this season on Thursday after falling to the Lancers 60-58 in a non-league contest. They met again the Tom Hawkins Tracy Breakfast Lions Tournament 10 days later, with EU winning more decisively, 53-29.
“We’ll take it on like any other game,” East Union coach Jim Agostini said. “Both teams I’m sure are different now than they were then. We have gotten better, but I’m sure they have also.”
West Campus 67, Sierra 29
SACRAMENTO — It was a one-sided 8-9 match-up, as the host Warriors (21-5) surged to a 16-2 first quarter lead.
Freshmen Marci Chaparro and Makayla Kakala led Sierra (15-13) with seven and six points, respectively.
