HUGHSON — Ripon Christian, leading by double digits for much of the game, fended off a late rally from Hughson to escape with a 52-44 win.
The Knights (2-4 Trans-Valley League, 7-12 overall) built a 30-17 by halftime but were outscored 11-5 in the third quarter. Hughson (1-6, 6-15) managed to cut it to four at one point in the fourth.
Taylor Anema came up big for Ripon Christian down the stretch. She replaced Rilee Clark, who was fouled on a play and left the game with a knee injury, and drained two free throws to expand the Knights’ fragile lead. Renae Heida later helped put the game away with a layup after coming down with an offensive rebound off a missed free throw.
Heida anchored the Knights with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Elizabeth Weststeyn complemented her with 12 and 15. Kelly Engle chipped in with 10 points. Mackenzie Buck paced the Huskies with 13 points.

Central Catholic 70,
East Union 54
East Union (4-3, 14-5) struggled at the start of each half, and Central Catholic (5-2, 14-5) took advantage en route to an impressive win for the visiting Raiders.
Danielle Friedrich torched the Lancers for 30 points, while Hannah Heath and Alexandria Candelario registered 12 apiece. Rube Daube and Donja Payne spearheaded EU with 20 and 18, respectively. The Lancers fell behind 23-7 in the first quarter and were then outscored 18-8 in the third.
“We just got outplayed tonight,” East Union coach Jim Agostini said. “Central Catholic was the better team and we got beat in all aspects.”

Manteca 38,
Oakdale 29
The first-place Buffaloes (7-0, 10-9) overcame an early 10-6 deficit and used a 15-4 run in the fourth quarter to gain separation at Winter Gym.
Loretta Kakala posted 10 points and 14 rebounds just hours after receiving her McDonald’s All-American jersey. Malia Parangan led Manteca with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore
East Union 57,
Central Catholic 7
It was a game for a quarter, and then it wasn’t.
The Lancers carried an 8-6 lead into the second quarter and held Central Catholic to a single point for the remainder of the game to stretch their impressive unbeaten streak.
Nina Murphy led the charge with 21 points, and Julia Vezaldenos had 16 points and seven rebounds.

Hughson 54,
Ripon Christian 32
HUGHSON — Ariel Vander Woude collected 13 points and 11 rebounds, but Ripon Christian had trouble keeping up with the TVL’s first-place team.

Freshman
Weston Ranch 44,
 Kimball 38
TRACY — A 14-5 surge in the third quarter proved to be the difference for Weston Ranch (6-0 VOL, 11-5 overall).
Jennalyn Laminero paced the Cougars with 13 points and three steals. Ashanti Boatman contributed seven points and 10 rebounds.