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Ripon falls short in another heartbreaker
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Ripon has been competitive for most of the season but doesn’t have the wins to show it.

The frustration continued with Thursday’s 47-44 overtime loss at Riverbank, the Trans-Valley League’s second-place squad that has only two overall losses. The Bruins (9-1 TVL, 21-2) could have two defeats against the defending co-champion Ripon but the young Indians couldn’t get over the hump in both hard-fought contests.

Kelsey Alexander amassed 24 points and 12 rebounds, but the rest of the Indians could only muster 20 points. Julia Victor did contribute with 18 rebounds.

Ripon (3-6, 7-15) opened the season by winning three of its first four but have since dropped 10 by single-digit margins.

“Our record isn’t very good, but if you look at our games we’re right there with almost everybody,” Ripon coach George Contege said. “We just have to figure out a way to finish out games.”

The Indians outscored the host team 12-2 in the second quarter to take an 18-14 lead into halftime. Fourth-year senior Janelle Luu was the difference for Riverbank down the stretch, as she buried six free throws in the Bruins’ 20-point fourth quarter and finished with 13 points. Olivia Luu, her younger sister, scored 17 points.

Southern League

Ripon Christian 65,
Denair 19

The Knights (11-0, 18-3) stretched their winning streak to 15 games and are a win away from clinching at least a co-championship, which would be their third in a row.

Ripon Christian blitzed Denair (2-9, 5-13) with a 25-1 flurry at the start before easing up. The Coyotes didn’t make a field goal until burying a 3-pointer about three minutes into the second quarter.

Teagan Manus and Ellen Blankers each pumped in 14 points for RC. Pam Radach collected 14 rebounds while scoring 12 points.