Ripon Christian’s boys basketball team trailed by as much as 20 points in the first quarter at No. 5-seeded Berkeley High but crept back to make things interesting in the closing moments of the California Interscholastic Federation Division III Northern Regional opener Tuesday.
After rebounding a missed and-1 free throw by Walker Postma with 16.5 seconds left, the Knights were off the mark on second- and third-chance opportunities — including an open 3-pointer — as Berkeley secured the loose ball and escaped with the 64-61 win.
Junior guards Jake Vander Veen and Mason Tameling keyed the comeback for Ripon Christian (24-7), which made a seventh straight appearance in the NorCal tournament.
Vander Veen scored a game-high 22 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. His pull-up jump shot from the elbow drew the Knights in 55-54 with 4:27 remaining, but they were never able to take a lead.
Berkeley (16-15) as it did for much of the final three quarters, answered Ripon Christian’s run with one of its own. The Yellowjackets responded with nine unanswered points over a 1-minute, 45-second span. They were held scoreless over the last 2:25, but that final burst was enough to get them into the next round.
Tameling gave RC some hope with his fifth 3-pointer of the game. He finished with 18 points, which included three made free throws that were rewarded after he was fouled on a 3-point attempt.
Vander Veen continued the Knights’ desperate push at the end with an alley-oop pass to the 6-foot-9 Postma (nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks), who threw it down to inch them closer at 64-59 with 1:37 to go.
Remarkably, Berkeley did not commit a turnover in the second half until the end, as it tried to milk the clock. Vander Veen stole a pass near mid-court with about 30 seconds left, and that led to Postma’s and-1 put-back.
The Yellowjackets came out firing with two made 3-pointers from Eddie Weber-Stover and led 25-5 with 1:36 left in the first quarter after freshman Darryl Johnson’s backcourt steal and layup. Ripon Christian had 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone but only five over the final three periods.
Noah Miller paced Berkeley with 18 points and seven rebounds. Donte Joseph added 12 points and five assists, and Weber-Stover tallied 11 points.
Amos Cady chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and four assists for Ripon Christian.
Berkeley travels to Salinas for the second round Thursday to take on fourth-seeded Palma (21-7), which knocked off No. 13 San Mateo, 52-47.
Division III girls
Immanuel 66, East Union 48
In Reedley, the top-seeded Eagles (28-5) soared out to a 23-8 lead and coasted from there. They expanded margin with a 20-8 third quarter.
East Union (23-8), seeded No. 16, was led by Ava Barrera’s 14 points. Haven Stone registered 10, and Julianna Gaspar had nine. Senior Alessandra Montes also scored nine points, eight in the fourth period.
“The effort was definitely there,” Lancers coach Jim Agostini said. “Their competitiveness is not in question at all. Immanuel is just a really good basketball team that played at a high level.”
Freshman guard Kiera Thomas fired 21 points for Immanuel. Ava Schletewitz tallied 12 points, while Jenna Goertzen and Adelina Moreno had eight apiece. The Eagles host No. 8 Chico (17-13) on Thursday.
