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Ripon eliminated in 1st round of NorCal playoffs
Ripon-Buchanan boys water polo
McKeane Beier and Benny Rogers guard the Ripon goal as Buchanan’s Carter Clenny threatens to score. Photo by KIM BEIER

Ripon’s boys and girls water polo teams ended their seasons Tuesday night in the opening round of the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regional Championships.

The boys, seeded seventh in Division II, had a strong showing in Clovis but fell short against No. 2 Buchanan in double overtime, 18-16.

Ripon-Buhach Colony girls water polo
Ripon’s Crystallyn Tran winds up for a shot at Buhach Colony. Photo by ALICIA BIEDERMANN
Meanwhile, Ripon’s girls traveled to Atwater and were defeated by No. 3 Buhach Colony, 15-10.

In the boys game, Ripon (27-5) put a scare in the Central Section’s Division I champion. Buchanan (22-10) outscored the Indians 4-1 in the second period to take a 9-5 lead that quickly evaporated after halftime. Ripon won the third quarter 5-2, and by the end of regulation they were deadlocked at 13-13.

Brody Biedermann did all he could to keep the Indians in it in overtime, having a hand in all three of their goals by scoring two of them and assisting the other to Ben Svoboda.

Biedermann also came up big late in Ripon’s comeback win over Rocklin the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship victory. He finished with six goals, four assists, six steals and three blocks. Svoboda ended with three goals, three assists and three steals.

McKeane Beier (assist, block), Ryan Bell and Owen Curtiss (steal) added two goals each. Curtiss, the lone senior on the squad, recently signed to continue his career with Biola University.

Matthew Lee (two assists, block, steal), Teo West (goal, five assists) and Nate Selna (two blocks) also contributed. Goalie Benny Rogers had six blocks and a steal.

Ripon’s No. 6-seeded girls team (21-11), competing with one substitute player all postseason, could not keep up with SJS Division II champ Buhach Colony (27-5).

Senior Sami Scheid paced the Indians’ attack with four goals and three assists in her final game. Faith Fasani contributed three goals, two assists and a steal. Reyna Biedermann added two goals, two assists, five steals and one block. Maddie Curtiss chipped in a goal and an assist. Goalie Tiffani Hunter tallied five saves and an assist.