Reina Sausedo is back.
Just a few days after having a cast removed from her injured shooting hand, the Ripon High senior scored a game-high 25 points to help lead her team past visiting Livingston 58-55 in Tuesday’s Trans-Valley League opener.
“I was dying to get back,” said Sausedo, who was sidelined for the past four weeks. “I even practiced shooting left-handed.”
She was of several nursing injuries for the Indians, according to coach Rick Inderbitzin. Tianna Sidtikun also had a hand injury.
Ripon (1-0, 10-5) gutted through this early TVL clash against the Wolves (0-1, 10-5), the reigning champion.
“This was a nice win,” Inderbitzin said. “Our league is loaded. I think every game will feel like a playoff game.”
Sausedo, meanwhile, missed her first three shots before finally sinking a pull-up jumper early on. Mikaylah Vaught dropped in two off a drive while Makenzie Loechler scored on an in-bound pass from Myra Toledo as Ripon took the early lead.
That was one of three inbound plays for the Indians in the first half. They also played tough defense in stretches, forcing Livingston into shot-clock violations on two occasions.
The third quarter became a shootout.
Down 25-23, the Wolves opened the second half with senior center Victoria Montes tying the game up at 25-25.
Ripon answered back with Sausedo scoring off a drive to the hoop. She was just warming up.
“It took until the second half to get going — by then, I stopped thinking about it,” Sausedo said, referring to her heavily wrapped right hand.
The third-quarter tempo went back and forth, featuring seven ties and three lead changes.
Baskets by Kianna Bacerra and Yareli Aviles put Livingston ahead. But then the momentum shifted in favor of the Indians.
Sausedo, who hit six of her eight free throws, had one to put tie the game at 42-42. Loechler gave Ripon the lead with a put-back and bucket by Mackenzie Hutchinson made it 46-42.
Ripon built up a 10-point cushion early in the fourth quarter.
The Wolves chipped away with a 6-1 run at the midway point. Both teams traded 3s — Vaught, who had 19 points and six rebounds, put her team up 56-48 only to see Livingston respond with Aviles sinking one from beyond the arc — down the stretch with Ripon all but securing the victory on a pair of free throws by Sausedo, who also had five boards and two steals.
Loechler was the top rebounder for the Indians with eight boards.
Breanna Espinoza led Livingston with 12 points. She also had four rebounds and two steals. Montes chipped in with 10 points and nine boards.