Ripon’s boys basketball team held off Escalon on the road for a 65-62 win that keeps it on course for a possible winner-take-all Trans-Valley League finale with Ripon Christian.

The Indians (9-1 TVL, 20-6 overall) travel to Hughson tonight before hosting RC next Friday.

Escalon (5-4, 19-6) jumped out to a 9-2 lead but never led in the second half. Ripon led by as much as 10, 56-46, in the fourth quarter after a pair of free throws from Ethan Bauer, but the Cougars did not go down quietly.

Escalon closed to within a point, and Logan Lefebvre gave Ripon some breathing room in the end with a pair of free throws.

Dawson Downs paced the Indians with 17 points and nine rebounds. Bauer finished with 15 points and three steals. Landon Gillespie turned in 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Ben Fletcher scored a game-high 19 points for Escalon.

Ripon Christian 84, Livingston 44

The host Knights (8-1 TVL, 18-6 overall) led 39-21 at halftime but blew it wide open with a season-best 34-point third quarter.

Jake Vander Veen led the outburst, scoring 11 of his game-best 24 points in the third. Jace Beidleman and Luke Crivello fired 18 and 13 points, respectively.

Livingston (2-7, 7-18) was led by Adrian Aguirre’s 17 points.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Central Catholic 53, East Union 50

Missing a key starter, the Lancers (7-2, 22-5 overall) were on the wrong end of the biggest upset in the Valley Oak League, and the defeat drops them a game back of Manteca in the title race.

East Union wraps up the VOL schedule at Kimball next Tuesday. The Lancers trailed 41-34 at the end of the third quarter and by as much as 11 before surging late. They had a chance to tie it in the end but missed a 3-pointer from the corner.

Nylah Dyson led East Union with 15 points, and Mariela Navarro had eight. Samantha Nichols led Central Catholic (1-8, 9-15) with 23 points, while Allie Abbate added 14.

Escalon 52, Ripon 24

Ripon (2-7 TVL, 8-16 overall) could not get untracked offensively and was held to single digits in every quarter. Danika Escola had five points and six rebounds for the Indians. Kailee Inderbitzin chipped in nine boards and three assists.

The visiting Cougars (6-2, 22-2) were led by Sammy Lang’s 16 points.

GIRLS SOCCER

Ripon Christian 6, Le Grand 1

Ripon Christian (10-1-1, 18-3-1 overall) scored all of its goals in the first half in the Southern Athletic League road game.

Brooke Barnes and Cora Vander Meulen accounted for two goals apiece, while Dayna Koolhaas scored one and assisted two others. Alanna Blanco also scored a goal. Addison De Jong and Anika Schoolland contributed with assists

The Knights host Denair next Monday for Senior Night.

JV girls basketball

East Union 50, Central Catholic 11

Bellah Crabb led three Lancers in double figures with 18 points to go with three assists.

Samantha Escamilla pitched in 12 points and six rebounds. Honey Wares tallied 10 points and two steals.

Frosh girls basketball

Lathrop 34, Johansen 19

Hazel Beltran led Lathrop with 12 points, while Aniya McGriff and Taylor Rios contributed six apiece.