The three-time Trans-Valley League champion is ready for the playoffs.
Ripon Christian’s boys basketball team wrapped up regular-season play Friday with a one-sided 64-33 win over visiting Hughson.
All nine Knights players suited up contributed with points, including Thys Van Der Hoek with seven. The 6-foot-8 senior played his second game of the season, as he is working his way back into form from a dislocated kneecap suffered in football.
Ripon Christian (12-0, 20-7 overall) went off for 24 points in the second quarter for a 41-23 halftime lead.
Derek Van Elderen and Eli Terpsma tallied 10 points apiece to lead the Knights. Jace Beidleman added nine, while Luke Crivello and Justin Hofman scored eight each.
Kyson Rytting led Hughson (3-9, 8-13) with 10 points.
The Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs begins next Wednesday. The Section will unveil brackets in a selection show streaking on NFHS Network today starting 1:30 p.m.
Ripon 57, Livingston 50
Sophomore Marcus Madoski was Ripon’s lone double-digit scorer with 19 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals, but it was the seniors who stole the show.
The Indians (7-5 TVL, 10-18 overall), who have likely clinched a postseason berth with the win, outscored visiting Livingston (3-9, 13-15) 17-6 in the final quarter
Senior guard Reed Holland spearheaded them with seven assists, most coming in the fourth quarter. Jack Schoolland was the beneficiary of Holland’s passes, scoring all eight of his points in crunch time.
Ripon started all four of its seniors, and each of them had their highlights.
Colton Morino opened scoring with a 3-pointer and accounted for seven of the Indians’ first 11 points of the game. Victor Alvarellos netted all five of his points in the first quarter while dishing out four assists and providing energy on defense. Diego Montoya got the home crowd fired up with his transition basket in the opening period.
“On Senior Night, it was the seniors that ultimately made the biggest contributions for us,” Ripon coach Justin Graham said. “Honestly, they got us the win. Really proud of the seniors and the way they battled and led us to victory.”
