Sierra High’s girls basketball team had a chance to get even with Ripon Monday but lost 46-34 in the first round of the Cosumnes Oaks Classic in Elk Grove.
In the season opener for both teams Nov. 30, the Timberwolves (5-3), who had a four-game winning streak snapped Monday, dropped a 41-37 decision at Ripon.
In the rematch, Ripon (5-1) established control early with its physical defense and rebounding, taking a 10-0 lead before Sierra answered with free throws late in the first quarter.
“That was basically it right there,” Sierra coach Steve Unterholzner said. “We kept (the deficit) within reason, we just couldn’t get our offense going until the second half.”
Ripon had three players in double figures: center Rachel Rodriguez with 12 points, and guards Kendra Contente and Ruth Waters with 10 apiece.
Michelle Arroyo netted 12 points with four 3-pointers to pace Sierra, which had to battle without its top player, Alysia Atkins, for most of the game. Atkins was limited to three points as she tagged with two fouls early in the first quarter and two more early in the third.
“It was physical from the very start,” Unterholzner said. “(Ripon) took us out of our rhythm, and it took us a while to get used to playing in that type of game.”
Sierra squares off with tourney host Cosumnes Oaks at 4:30 p.m. today, while Ripon tangles with Encina-Sacramento in the semifinals at 7:30.
Blessie Caro led Lathrop with five points. For Argonaut (6-1), Alyssa Cabri poured in 15, and Morgan Roots had 13.
Lathrop will next face Johansen at 3 today for a rematch. Lathrop defeated the Vikings 47-40 on Nov. 30 in their season opener.
In the season opener for both teams Nov. 30, the Timberwolves (5-3), who had a four-game winning streak snapped Monday, dropped a 41-37 decision at Ripon.
In the rematch, Ripon (5-1) established control early with its physical defense and rebounding, taking a 10-0 lead before Sierra answered with free throws late in the first quarter.
“That was basically it right there,” Sierra coach Steve Unterholzner said. “We kept (the deficit) within reason, we just couldn’t get our offense going until the second half.”
Ripon had three players in double figures: center Rachel Rodriguez with 12 points, and guards Kendra Contente and Ruth Waters with 10 apiece.
Michelle Arroyo netted 12 points with four 3-pointers to pace Sierra, which had to battle without its top player, Alysia Atkins, for most of the game. Atkins was limited to three points as she tagged with two fouls early in the first quarter and two more early in the third.
“It was physical from the very start,” Unterholzner said. “(Ripon) took us out of our rhythm, and it took us a while to get used to playing in that type of game.”
Sierra squares off with tourney host Cosumnes Oaks at 4:30 p.m. today, while Ripon tangles with Encina-Sacramento in the semifinals at 7:30.
Argonaut 55, Lathrop 20
The Spartans (2-3) drew last season’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV runners-up and struggled to keep up.Blessie Caro led Lathrop with five points. For Argonaut (6-1), Alyssa Cabri poured in 15, and Morgan Roots had 13.
Lathrop will next face Johansen at 3 today for a rematch. Lathrop defeated the Vikings 47-40 on Nov. 30 in their season opener.
