Visiting El Capitan started the game with Ripon in a trapping half-court press, and the Gauchos from Merced quickly switched to full-court pressure, forcing 22 turnovers on the way to a 64-45 non-league boys basketball win.

“El Cap plays aggressive all the time,” Indians coach Justin Graham said. “It’s not like it’s something new for them. That style of play and the ability to stay out of foul trouble is something they are used to and our kids need to adjust to that. They have to recognize how the game is being called and adjust accordingly.”

El Capitan (5-6) took a 14-point lead early in the second quarter and bumped it up to 25 points in the third.

“We’re finally getting healthy,” Gauchos coach Adrian Hurtado said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries and sicknesses and stuff like that and we are able to sub in a lot of guys now.

“We’re disciplined. We have nine returners with a lot of knowledge. We talked about that discipline in the locker room, especially when we’re on the road and we don’t know how the officials are going to be. We were able to come out aggressive, but a little more disciplined.”

Ripon (1-4) had some impact from its bench, with Marcus Madoski coming into the game in the second quarter when he scored six of his eight points.

“Marcus (Madoski) is a sophomore,” Graham said. “I love his aggressive nature coming into the game.

“Prior to him coming into the game we were a little passive and his mindset is always to attack, to go and score and it showed in the second quarter when he had six points.”

Reed Holland came into the game in the third period, scoring four points within five seconds, sandwiching that pair of buckets around a steal. He had three steals in the quarter.

“Reed (Holland) is a senior and has been with us for four years,” Graham said. “He works his tail off and he has earned the opportunity to be out there.

“One of the things he does is he brings a lot of energy for us and we need that.”

Dawson Downs led the Indians with 10 points behind a pair of 3-pointers. Ty Herrin (eight rebounds, four steals) and Landon Gillespie added seven points apiece and Jack Schooland made four steals.

Four El Capitan players hit for double figures – game-high Brody Collins (17 points), Will Bain (14), Christian Macalincag (13) and Carson Trost (12).

Ripon plays Union Mine on Thursday in the Argonaut Playoff Preview at 3:30 p.m.

Junior varsity

El Capitan 54, Ripon 35

Marcus Atienza scored 10 points for the Indians and Brett Shaw added eight.

Freshmen

El Capitan 41, Ripon 34

Tipeti Paini led the Indians with 11 points.