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Ripon girls closer to outright title; shorthanded boys fall to Oakdale
Oakdale-Ripon water polo
Ripon goalie Tiffany Hunter reaches to make the save against visiting Oakdale. GARY JENSEN/GreatShots49@gmail.com

Ripon’s girls water polo team is set up to earn another outright Valley Oak League championship after its one-sided 17-5 win over visiting Oakdale on Tuesday.

The Indians’ boys team, however, may have to settle for a share after getting edged out, 12-11.

Hailey Knief led Ripon’s girls with nine goals and two assists, while goalie Tiffani Hunter shined on the other end of the pool with 11 saves. It was a close game to start, but Ripon outscored the Indians 13-2 in the final three quarters.

Chloe Price contributed three goals and three assists, Mia Sickler-Lopez had three goals and one assist and Crystallyn Tran added two assists and two steals. Maddie Curtis and Hunter each chipped in a goal.

The boys game played out much differently than the first go-around dominated by Ripon, 15-6. The Indians were without their top scorer, Ben Svoboda (injury), and McKeane Beier missed two quarters after getting struck in the face.

The team battled valiantly despite the key absences. Brody Biedermann spearheaded a balanced scoring effort with four goals, three assists and one steal. Teo West tallied three goals, while Ryan Bell (two steals) and Owen Curtis (two blocks, two steals) scored two apiece.

Nate Selna led the defense with three steals and two blocks. Goalie Benny Rogers finished with four blocks and a steal.

 

BOYS

Sierra 22, East Union 5

Thirteen different Timberwolves contributed to the scoring for host Sierra.

Erfan Ballew led the way with four goals, while Jacob Hargas added three.

Tommy Carillo (two), Noah Sandoval (two), Moises Alvarado (one), Sammy Perez (one), Troy Morrow (two), Erik Johnson (two), Carson Murray (one), Ian Trconic (one), Gabriel Monasterio (one), Mo Toutoi (one) and Bayan Ballew (one) also chimed in.

Jesse Moe, Landon Wolfe, Matthew Miske, Gabriel Holguin and Alexander Freeman netted a goal each for East Union.

 

GIRLS

Sierra 20, East Union 3

Olivia Knodt paced the Timberwolves with three goals. Mele Sanchez, Lyndi Mortenson, Maya Murillo, Madison Madrid and Caly Culbertson converted two apiece. Taylor Miske, Zoe Sandoval, Stefany Perez, Stephanie Thomasen, Molly Allen and Marisa Rush converted one each.

Madelynn Miske accounted for all three of East Union’s goals.