Ripon Christian had one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s top teams on the ropes by halftime, but that was DeAndre Stallings’ cue to take over for Liberty Ranch.

The Hawks’ 6-foot-6 standout guard hit six 3-pointers in the third quarter alone and scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the second half as the visitors from Galt rallied to a 69-57 nonleague victory Tuesday.

“We didn’t react well to him making the 3s very well,” Ripon Christian coach Ron Vander Molen said. “We probably played our best half of the year and our zone (defense) seemed to work well. And then in the second half we couldn’t stop him from shooting.”

Ripon Christian (9-3) was ahead 40-30 at halftime after its 24-point onslaught in the second period but was limited to just 17 total in the second half. Liberty Ranch (14-1) outscored the Knights 22-7 in the third and rolled to its 14th win in a row.

Sean Broker amassed 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead Ripon Christian. Austin Alger had 16 points, Danny Vander Molen added nine and Travis Vander Molen finished with eight.

Ripon Christian gets another stiff test from El Camino on Friday, when the Knights celebrate their winter homecoming.

“It would have been really nice for us to get the win rankings-wise and I really felt like we could have,” coach Vander Molen said. “But it was a good game for us to experience, it can only help us for (Trans-Valley League) teams like Riverbank, Escalon and Ripon. We were able to handle their defensive pressure and keep up with a fast team, we just have to be able to do it for a longer stretch.”

GIRLS

Ripon Christian 55,
Mariposa 22

In Mariposa, Ripon Christian (7-3) used a balanced effort to blow out its former Southern League rival.

Nicole Graham led the way with 10 points, Bailey Broker chipped in nine and posts Pam Radach and Carly Tillema had eight apiece. Tillema also collected 14 rebounds and four assists.



Vista del Lago 57,
Ripon 52

Missed free throws ultimately doomed Ripon (7-7) in its rematch against the visiting Eagles (9-7) from Folsom.

Zaire Davis and Jourdy Richter poured in 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Indians. Emily Anderson and Taylor Rubash each scored 18 to lead Vista del Lago, and Caprina Pilion tacked on 16 of her own.



Sophomore

Ripon Christian 52,
 Mariposa 6

The Knights (8-4) mounted a 35-0 halftime lead and cruised from there. Abby Buitrago racked up 20 points, eight steals and four assists.