The two clubs participating in the inaugural Hoops for the Cure Classic lived up to their end of the bargain, and a blowout birthday effort from East Union’s Briona Fontenot proved to be the difference in the Lancers’ 61-56 win over Ripon High Saturday at the Dalben Center.
East Union (4-1) got a tremendous effort from Fountenot, who turned in a game-high 23 points, including 12 second-half points to help the Lancers distance themselves from the Indians. The two teams were tied 30-30 at the half, forcing East Union to keep calling Fontenot’s number and she continually responded.
“Briona is one of our senior leaders that has worked hard in our program for four years,” Lancer head coach Jim Agostini said. “She has worked hard and developed her skills, really putting in as much work as anybody in our program.
“Especially during the offseason. She really is just getting the chance to show people that she’s got game.”
The Lancers needed each of her 23 points in attempt to fend off a determined Ripon group. The Indians clutched a one-point deficit at the end of the third quarter, but saw that deficit peak when East Union came out and scored six unanswered to open the fourth quarter.
“It really was a great game,” Ripon head coach George Contente said. “It’s just too bad that somebody had to lose this ball game. We did a pretty good job not letting the game get away from us.
“We went cold a little bit in the fourth quarter, and it really cost us.”
The Indians got a solid effort from post player Tia Sidtikum. Sidtikum found a great deal of success with her polished post moves, leading Ripon with 13 points. Rachel Rodriguez also made significant contributions (11 points), but Ripon proved incapable of getting that crucial defensive stop at crunch time.
The two clubs combined for 23 free throws attempted in the fourth quarter. East Union was the team to come out on top, converting on eight of its 13 attempts.
“We tried to play man with them and we couldn’t,” Agostini said. “We could not keep them in front of us; they were killing us on dribble penetration. Ripon did a really good job, so we had to mix things up defensively.
“We played in three different defenses finding the one that worked for us.”
Fontenot was what worked on offense, scoring at least two baskets in each quarter and contributing when it counted most, with seven points in the first quarter and seven more in the finale.
“I knew that it was going to be a lot of pressure on us, especially with this being the breast cancer game,” Fontenot said. “We had to get our job done and come out and play focused.
“We knew that our job was to mainly stay focused and we did.”
Senior Lexy Posz drained a pair of 3-pointers on her way to 11 points, while Shalane Jackson added eight points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds. Ripon got a solid Ruth Waters who finished with 11, while teammate Kendra Contente added six.
East Union will be back on its home court Tuesday when they play host to Davis High, and Ripon will begin Consumnes Oaks Tournament action Monday with its first round matchup.
East Union (4-1) got a tremendous effort from Fountenot, who turned in a game-high 23 points, including 12 second-half points to help the Lancers distance themselves from the Indians. The two teams were tied 30-30 at the half, forcing East Union to keep calling Fontenot’s number and she continually responded.
“Briona is one of our senior leaders that has worked hard in our program for four years,” Lancer head coach Jim Agostini said. “She has worked hard and developed her skills, really putting in as much work as anybody in our program.
“Especially during the offseason. She really is just getting the chance to show people that she’s got game.”
The Lancers needed each of her 23 points in attempt to fend off a determined Ripon group. The Indians clutched a one-point deficit at the end of the third quarter, but saw that deficit peak when East Union came out and scored six unanswered to open the fourth quarter.
“It really was a great game,” Ripon head coach George Contente said. “It’s just too bad that somebody had to lose this ball game. We did a pretty good job not letting the game get away from us.
“We went cold a little bit in the fourth quarter, and it really cost us.”
The Indians got a solid effort from post player Tia Sidtikum. Sidtikum found a great deal of success with her polished post moves, leading Ripon with 13 points. Rachel Rodriguez also made significant contributions (11 points), but Ripon proved incapable of getting that crucial defensive stop at crunch time.
The two clubs combined for 23 free throws attempted in the fourth quarter. East Union was the team to come out on top, converting on eight of its 13 attempts.
“We tried to play man with them and we couldn’t,” Agostini said. “We could not keep them in front of us; they were killing us on dribble penetration. Ripon did a really good job, so we had to mix things up defensively.
“We played in three different defenses finding the one that worked for us.”
Fontenot was what worked on offense, scoring at least two baskets in each quarter and contributing when it counted most, with seven points in the first quarter and seven more in the finale.
“I knew that it was going to be a lot of pressure on us, especially with this being the breast cancer game,” Fontenot said. “We had to get our job done and come out and play focused.
“We knew that our job was to mainly stay focused and we did.”
Senior Lexy Posz drained a pair of 3-pointers on her way to 11 points, while Shalane Jackson added eight points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds. Ripon got a solid Ruth Waters who finished with 11, while teammate Kendra Contente added six.
East Union will be back on its home court Tuesday when they play host to Davis High, and Ripon will begin Consumnes Oaks Tournament action Monday with its first round matchup.
