Sierra’s boys basketball team put itself in positon to snag the Valley Oak League’s third postseason spot after knocking off Oakdale on the road on Friday, but it did not come easily.

The Timberwolves squandered a 14-point lead it had at the start of the fourth quarter but managed to regain momentum and escape with the 62-57 double-overtime win.

Antony Grady drained three of Sierra’s seven 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 21 points. Josh Seals contributed with 18 points, and Tim Sarginson had 14.

Sierra (4-5 VOL, 15-11 overall) led 43-29 after three quarters but could only muster four points in the third while Oakdale (3-6, 9-17) erupted for 18. The Timberwolves closed the game by scoring six unanswered points.

Sierra can clinch the third postseason berth next Wednesday when it caps the VOL schedule at East Union.

Ripon Christian 63, Hilmar 37

Sophomores Jake Vander Veen and Mason Tameling combined to score 22 of the Knights’ 26 points in the first quarter of this Trans-Valley League blowout. Ripon Christian (9-1, 19-6 overall) surged to a 38-16 halftime lead.

Vander Veen scored 13 of his team-high 14 points during that first-quarter barrage. Amos Cady contributed with 12, and Tameling tallied 11 which include three 3s. Luke Crivello added 10 points.

Xavier Silva led Hilmar (0-10, 5-21) with 13 points.

Ripon Christian hosts Riverbank for Senior Night next Wednesday before visiting rival Ripon on Feb. 9 with the TVL title likely on the line.

Ripon 76, Hughson 60

The Indians (10-1, 21-6) will have a week to prepare for their big showdown with Ripon Christian.

They first had to survive a scare from Cade McLaughlin and Hughson (3-7, 10-13) on the road. The Huskies’ senior guard fired a game-high 21 points.

Ripon countered with Marcus Madoski’s 20 points. Dawson Downs and Logan Lefebvre added 16 and 14 points, respectively. Downs and Madoski drained four 3-pointers apiece. Landon Gillespie added eight points and four steals.

Johansen 64, Lathrop 61

The Spartans (6-6, 8-16 overall) are out of the running for one of the automatic playoff bids in Western Athletic Conference following the loss in Modesto.

Raymond Carson paced Lathrop with 20 points and six rebounds. Reniel Crisostomo added 15 points.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hughson 50, Ripon 35

Faith Yuen got to have her moment on Senior Night, as she scored the first bucket of the game for Ripon (2-8 TVL, 8-17 overall). She tore an ACL early in the season and is set to have surgery next week.

Vanessah Ponce buried three 3s in the first quarter and finished with nine points. Kailee Inderbitzin accumulated eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Kaylee Lehmkuhl had seven points and three assists.

Hughson (10-1, 19-7) was ahead 29-20 before widening the gap with a 14-4 third quarter. Madi Duron paced the Huskies with 16 points.

Ripon Christian 37, Hilmar 17

Maddie Yonker produced 15 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks as the Knights (5-5, 13-10) cruised to the TVL home win. Reagan Vander Hoek amassed 16 rebounds. Kara Kessler chimed in with seven points.

JV boys basketball

Johansen 43, Lathrop 37

Justin Neal paced Lathrop with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Frosh boys basketball

Lathrop 67, Johansen 35

Jayden Davison netted 20 points and 10 rebounds in the lopsided victory.

Bryan Gamboa collected 17 points, five steals, five assists and five rebounds. Adrian Vaye contributed 10 points, 10 steals, 11 rebounds and six assists. Zac Smith added 11 points, eight steals, seven assists and seven boards. Mario Guerra corralled 13 rebounds to go with four steals and three points.

Sierra 41 Oakdale 37
Karanbir Bhandal scored six of his 14 points in the fourth quarter for the visiting Timberwolves (7-3 VOL, 16-9 overall).

Isaiah Revives chimed in with eight points. Arsh Gosal and Isaac Kempf scored seven apiece.