By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Snow postpones RHS girls playoff opener
Placeholder Image

RIPON -- The Sac-Joaquin Section basketball playoffs are only a day old and already there are complications.

Snow in the Sierra-Nevada foothills forced the postponement of two first-round girls games on Tuesday night, including Ripon tilt with Bret Harte.

Instead, the No. 5 Indians (22-4) will host the 12th-seeded Bullfrogs (16-10) tonight in a Division V first-round game. Tip is at 7 o’clock.

“We just have to make adjustments. This stuff happens. We just have to go with it,” Ripon coach George Contente said.

The Indians held a light practice on Tuesday and used the unexpected off day to nurse its wounds. One player has been battling the flu bug, Contente said, while a few others

“The kids were pretty good about it. We were able to go through some stuff,” he added. “What can you say? You can’t predict the weather.”

The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday night, but inclement weather kept the Bullfrogs at home. Chains were required throughout Calaveras County along Highway 4.

Ripon High athletic director Chris Johnson was informed of Bret Harte’s travel issues at about 4 p.m. The Sac-Joaquin Section confirmed the postponement on its website.

A second game – Nevada Union vs. St. Francis – was also postponed because of the storm, which produced snow at low elevations.

Ripon is taking this latest setback in stride.

Last week, the Indians fell in the rankings when brackets were released, despite earning a share of the Trans-Valley League championship with a victory over Modesto Christian, the No. 6 seed in Division III.

At the time of their defeat, the Crusaders had a 99-game winning streak in TVL play.

Ripon was seeded fourth in the final power ratings on Feb. 4 and won its final eight games.

The drop means Ripon would have to travel should it to meet No. 4 Argonaut, a 60-43 winner over Riverbank, in the second round on Thursday. The postponement also means the Indians would be without a practice day.

“Rankings are what they are. I can’t change them,” Contente said. “We’ve talked about how things have gone. We have to be able to adjust just like the game. That’s how we have to approach it.”