Led by MVP Ava Barrera, East Union’s girls basketball team captured the Golden Valley Tournament for a third straight year Saturday in Merced with a 59-52 win over Whitney of Cerritos.

Barrera scored 10 of her team-high 12 points in the second half. The Lancers (6-2) staked a 28-27 halftime lead.

Haven Stone and Alexia Zuniga scored 11 points apiece. Shebra Rezaye added eight. Jayda Anderson (seven points) and ZyonDupree Beasley (five) joined Barrera on the all-tournament team.

East Union withstood a 3-point shooting barrage from Alyssa SO and the Wildcats (4-3) from Los Angeles County. The sophomore guard made five of her team’s eight 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 17 points. Haylie Wang poured in 16.

Ripon 56, Golden Valley 41

Leila Sanchez powered the Indians (2-4) to an early lead, netting 13 of her 15 points in the first half in the seventh-place game against the tournament host. Ripon led 33-23 at halftime.

Danika Escola, Lauren Peters and Scarlett Ponce each contributed six points.

Jazelina Santillan and Alondra Bribiescas scored 12 and 11, respectively for the Cougars (2-4).

BOYS BASKETBALL

Beyer 64, Ripon Christian 61

In Riverbank, Ripon Christian (4-1) managed to make a game of it after twice falling behind by double digits in the first half in the Ron Peterson Tip-Off Tournament championship game.

The Knights had a chance to tie it late while trailing 60-58 but had multiple shots rim out. Beyer (4-0) was able to carry its lead to the end, capitalizing on free throws in the final minute. Ripon Christian chucked up a desperation 3 in an attempt to tie it but was off the target.

The Patriots started on a 15-2 run. RC cut the deficit to five, Beyer surged to a 40-25 halftime advantage.

All-tournament selection Jake Vander Veen spearheaded the Knights’ second-half comeback when he scored 15 of his 22 points. Guards Mason Tameling and Amos Cady pitched in with 14 and 13, respectively, while combing for seven made 3s. Walker Postma, who scored seven points, made all-tourney.

Six-foot-5 forward Curtis Harmon anchored Beyer with 31 points.

River Islands 55, Downey 52

The Riptide finish in third place in the Ron Peterson Tip-Off, battling back from a 32-15 halftime deficit.

They took the lead in the final minute when all-tournament selection Idrees ElFarra set up Charles Mapanao for a 3-pointer. Freshman Zachary Basurto tied the game on River Islands’ previous possession with a hard-earned put-back bucket.

ElFarra led the way with 23 points. Basurto and Mapanao contributed nine apiece.

Lathrop 73, Franklin 37

Jordan Perkins compiled 18 points to lead Lathrop (2-4) to a road victory.

Bryan Gamboa added 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Elijah McAllister had 10 points and five rebounds.

GIRLS SOCCER

Oakdale Stampede

Ripon (3-2-1) had a strong showing against tough competition in the two-day tournament, ending with a 2-0 win over Merced (2-2) on Saturday.

The Indians started Friday with a 2-2 stalemate against Central Valley and were thumped by eventual champion Lincoln (6-0) of Stockton, 5-1. It was the only goal scored against the Trojans over the weekend.

Senior forward Olivia Maragos accounted for all five Ripon goals. Jordyn Meeuwse had two assists, while Rylee Agbayani and Nina Benedetti had on each. Goale Ellena Parenti totaled nine saves.

Ripon’s JV team finished as the runner-up, falling to Turlock in the final, 3-0. The Indians won their first two matches in blowouts against Riverbank, 10-0 and Gregori, 5-1. Mia Hendryx and Cami Seeselth were the Indians’ leading scorers.

Turlock 2, Manteca 0

The Buffaloes (2-2-1) experimented with different formations with hopes of getting their attack jump started but got shut out for a second straight game.

Host Turlock (4-2-1) scored one in the first half and doubled the advantage in the final minute of the game.

BOYS SOCCER

RC Jerry Terpsma Classic

Tournament host Ripon Christian (5-1) suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, dropping its semifinal to Wheatland in a penalty-kick shootout, 2-2 (5-3).

The Knights bounced back in the third-place game, blanking Trans-Valley League foe, 3-0 Wheatland (2-1-1) dropped the final 2-1 to Bradshaw Christian.

Ricky Van Unen scored three goals in the two games for Ripon Christian. Jack Dooley and Collin LeCayn added one each. Isaiah Vander Woude totaled four assists in the three games and was named to the all-tournament team.

JV boys basketball

Lathrop 65, Franklin 45

Diego Alvarez amassed 20 points, four steals and three rebounds, as the Spartans rolled to the non-league blowout win.

Jayden White pumped in 14 points, seven boards and four steals.