RIPON — Ripon High was off and running on Wednesday.
In the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV opener, the No. 4-seeded Indians often relied on the defense to help trigger their fast-break attack over visiting Marysville.
The result of that was a 66-51 victory.
Ripon (23-5) will host No. 5 Sonora on Friday. It’s a rematch of their Dec. 1 meeting won by Sonora 57-44 in the first round of the Stagg Tournament.
“We scored a lot of fast-break points and drives to the basket. We also made lots and lots of turnovers,” Indians coach Rod Wright said.
Marysville, at No. 13, received a low seeding after being forced to forfeit a handful games due to the questionable handling of the transfer rules.
Marysville (17-10) — also the Indians — had its best player in Cornell Greenwood.
He got the game going with a steal and basket followed by a backdoor layup.
Aaron Paschini helped spark Ripon with four steals, with a couple of those going as layups for Cole Stevens.
Ripon led 18-12 after one quarter. But Marysville answered back with Greenwood scoring three straight baskets and Azhar Bath draining a 3, tying the game at 21-21.
A put-back by Vincent Olmo put Ripon back on top.
Marysville temporarily reclaimed the lead only to see Ripon go on a 12-0 run to close out the half.
Down 35-29, Marysville pulled to within two to open the third quarter.
Ripon began to pull away from there, with Rhet Herrin leaking out for a pair of open layups.
“He’s our unsung hero,” Wright said of Herrin. “He runs the play and he just what to do when he comes into the game.”
Kyle Sisk scored off a turnover in the back court, getting help from his brother Anthony Sisk.
By the time Noah Hernandez dropped in a floater, Ripon had built up a 53-38 advantage.
Stevens had a team-high 20 points. He also came away three steals.
Hernandez chipped in with 14.
Kyle Sisk added 10 points, six boards and three steals, while Paschini had seven points, eight steals, six rebounds and a block.
Greenwood led Marysville with a game-high 21. He also collected seven rebounds, four steals and a block.
