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Ripon Christian lassos Mustangs to win own tourney
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Ripon Christian defended its own court and tournament title with, well, hard-nosed defense.

The 21st Annual Ripon Christian Lady Knights Tournament champion clamped down on Argonaut’s high-paced offense and rolled to a 36-25 Tuesday night. It is the fourth straight season that the tourney host captured the first-place trophy.

Argonaut (6-4) was riding a four-game winning streak and averaged 55.3 points in its last three contests. On Tuesday, the Mustangs of Jackson were held to single digits in each of the first three quarters and just a single point in the third. 

“We played really well on the defensive end,” Ripon Christian coach Ed Mulder said. “We kept them in halfcourt and out of transition. That was the real key because they are a good transition team, and we didn’t turn the ball over very much on offense to give them those opportunities.”

All-tournament selection Elisabeth Regusci paced the Knights (6-3) with 11 points. Pam Radach (eight points, eight rebounds), Carly Tillema (six points, nine rebounds) and Bailey Broker (12 rebounds) did the dirty work in the paint. Nicole Graham and Tillema joined Regusci on the all-tourney team. Autumn Cramer, one of two all-tournament players for Argonaut, scored 10 points.

Central Catholic outlasted Hilmar 60-47 to win the third-place game. Millennium topped Big Valley Christian in the consolation championship.

Also making the all-tournament team were: Brenna Reece (Big Valley Christian), Amaya Salas (Millennium), Kinsey Pettigrew (Hilmar), Alexandria Candelario (Central Catholic), Danielle Friedrich (Central Catholic) and Kennedy Curran (Argonaut).