22-02-2025
Strong fourth quarter powers Ripon Christian to Division IV quarterfinal win over Colfax
In sports sometimes the best way to win a game is also the easiest. Keeping it simple can go a long way.
The Ripon Christian boys basketball team and coach Mark Hofman put that theory to practice with the season on the line in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV quarterfinals against visiting Colfax.
Their regular offense would not work. Shots would not fall, ball handlers were being crowded and double-teamed on ball screens and the Knights were in an eight-point third-quarter hole. So, in the second half, they set aside the complex offense, went to a four-guard lineup, spread things out and let the players take over the game.
'We quit setting ball screens. They weren't doing any good,' Hofman said. '(Colfax) is a very good hedging team and we don't see that down here a lot. … But we just said spread it out, get the ball moving and let our guards go to work.'
It worked. After falling behind by eight points in the third quarter, the Knights' offense showed some life. They ended the quarter on a 6-2 run to make it a two-point game heading into the fourth. In the final frame, their offense exploded. After struggling to find their offense, Jake Vander Veen, Chase Bunnell and Amos Cady powered the Knights to a 53-46 win.
They travel to Casa Roble Feb. 25 for a semifinal matchup against the No. 2 Rams with a trip to the section title game at Golden 1 Center on the line.
'That's a big win for us,' Hofman said. 'A quarterfinal D-IV game. That's one of the better teams I've played in a long time.'
Bunnell is a six-foot-three guard who Hofman says provides a good change of pace for the Knights. Because they started with a big lineup Friday night, he came off the bench and provided the spark whenever he stepped on the court.
The Knights and Falcons matched up evenly in every way from size to their defense-first mindset. Points were hard to come by and the Knights held a narrow 19-16 lead at the half.
Colfax went on a run in the third quarter, outscoring the Knights 11-0 to start the frame. After the Knights cut it to a 31-29 game entering the fourth quarter, Bunnell went on a personal 6-4 run to open the final quarter to tie the game at 35 apiece, rejuvenating the Knights home crowd.
'He came in and changed the game,' Hofman said. 'He did the same thing (in the first round) against Sutter too. When you're not a starter, they tend to overlook you and then boom, he came in and attacked the basket.'
Then the stars took over. Vander Veen scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter. He scored eight straight Knights points during an 11-2 run that gave Ripon Christian a 46-37 lead. Cady and Mason Tameling knocked down late-game free throws to seal the win.
'When things weren't going well, they just stayed with it,' Hofman said.
The Knights are defending back-to-back Division V section champions, meaning by virtue of the section's continued success rule, they moved up to the D-IV bracket. After winning their fifth straight Trans-Valley League title, they earned the No. 3 seed, securing at least two home playoff games.
Hofman says he recognized the difference right away.
' It's completely different,' he said. 'Usually (in Division V), we'd have a warm-up game, but (in Division IV) it is on Game 1. The defense is better, the athleticism is better. I'm thrilled to get this game.'
The Knights with Friday's win also qualified for the Northern California regional playoffs, which begin after next week's section title games.
Division I
No. 1 Modesto Christian 71, No. 8 Franklin 61: Modesto Christian won its seventh straight contest, defeating Franklin of Elk Grove in the D-I quarterfinals. The Crusaders face No. 4 Lincoln of Stockton Tuesday in the Division I section semifinals. It will be the third meeting between the teams this season. The last game resulted in an 80-72 Crusaders overtime win.
Division IV
No. 2 Casa Roble 82, No. 7 Ripon 56: Ripon was held to just nine first-quarter points on the road. Casa Roble scored 24 points in the second quarter and 25 in the third quarter to pull away, advancing to the semifinals. Ripon's season ends with 18 wins and 12 losses and a 9-3 TVL record.
Division V
No. 2 Argonaut 73, No. 10 Big Valley Christian 52: The Lions were outscored 29-14 in the opening quarter, falling into a hole they could not overcome. After upsetting the No. 7 seed in this year's playoff opener, Big Valley's season came to an end Friday night in the quarterfinals. The Lions finished 16-10 overall.
Division I
No. 5 Turlock 2, No. 4 Lincoln 1: Turlock picked up win 14 on the season with Friday night's tight quarterfinal road matchup against Lincoln of Stockton. The Bulldogs travel to No. 1 Franklin of Elk Grove Wednesday at 6 p.m.
No. 3 Central Valley 2, No. 11 Inderkum 0: The Hawks and Tigers finished regulation scoreless but Alejandro Garcia took over in the overtime periods. He drilled a penalty kick in the first extra frame and added another in the second overtime in the final minutes to seal the quarterfinals victory. Central Valley will travel to No. 2 Davis Sr. High for Wednesday's semifinal matchup at 6 p.m.
Division II
No. 5 Downey 3, No. 4 Rocklin 2: Jadon Castro scored once and Daniel Guzman added a pair of goals as the Knights went on the road and upset the four-seed Thunder Friday night. The Knights earned their 15th win this season, the most in a single year since 2016-17. They play top seed Woodcreek in the section semifinals Wednesday at 6 p.m.
No. 6 Pitman 3, No. 3 Grant 0: Pitman scored twice in the first half and once in the second to upset the third-seed Pacers on the road. The Pride travel to No. 2-seed Whitney Wednesday for a semifinal matchup.
