Ripon was in a dogfight during the championship game of its own Winter Classic Tournament Saturday night.

The Indians (1-7) had a fourth-quarter lead at one point, but Stagg rallied behind five 3-pointers in the final frame, including the game-winning trey by Jonathan Sreiy (27 points) that lifted the Delta Kings to a 70-67 victory.

Ripon freshman Cole Stevens (team-high 22 points) and senior Chase DePrue (eight points) both drilled clutch triples, the Indians’ only 3s of the game, in the final quarter.

DePrue also knocked down two free throws with 7.2 seconds left that knotted the game at 67.

Sreiy, a Stagg (4-7) senior guard, scored 17 in the second half and 12 in the final eight minutes (all 3s) including the winner from the top of the key.

Ripon’s defense did hold him scoreless in the first quarter and led 19-10, but Sreily finished hit with seven 3s in the final three stanzas.

Stagg went on a 21-14 run to close the half and cut its deficit to two.

Ripon outscored the visitors by two in the third and led 50-46 heading into the fourth frame, which Stagg closed 24-17.

Ripon senior guard Curtis Azevedo also chipped in eight points for Ripon, which will host Central Catholic of Modesto tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Cosumnes Oaks 77,
Manteca 55

The tournament host got hot in the second quarter of Running with the Pack Tournament championship game and knocked down six 3-balls in the quarter to take a 25-point lead into the locker rooms.

Manteca fell to 7-4 in the preseason settling for second. The Buffaloes did make a run in the second half and opened on a 10-2 run. They also cut a deficit that was as large as 27 down to 10 in the fourth.

“That was probably one of the best teams we’ve seen this preseason,” Manteca assistant coach Brett Lewis said. “We told these guys if we want to be a playoff-caliber team, we have to beat teams like this.

“They hit six 3s in the second quarter and went 7 of 9 in the first half. It was the opposite for us in the second quarter – we couldn’t buy a bucket.”

Miguel Lopez led the team with 15 points with 13 in the third. T.J. Muhar finished with 12 points and eight boards for Manteca, who will host Liberty Ranch of Galt at Winter Gym next Monday.

Mike Hatfield finished with 14 points and Austin Haro 10.

Liberty Ranch 71,
Ripon Chr. 56

The Knights (6-2) came up short during their own tournament championship after only scoring six points in the third quarter and being outscored by 25 over a 16-minute stretch.

Sophomore Travis Vander Molen scored a team-high 15 points and senior Eric Broker finished with 10. Sean Broker (nine), Austin Alger (eight) and Jake Schollenberg (seven) combined for 24.

Ripon Christian’s next scheduled game is Jan. 3 at Waterford at 7:30 p.m.