Two wins in three games this past week has the Escalon varsity basketball girls solidly in second place in Trans-Valley League action, their lone loss this week coming to league leading Ripon.
They started the week at Ripon Christian on Jan. 21 and ran out to a 14-2 first quarter lead, going up 28-4 at the half.
“We were able to apply some pressure with our press and get out in transition a little bit leading to the lopsided halftime score,” explained head coach Joseph Dalpogetti. “It was 41-8 heading into the fourth, final was 45-12.”
Leading the way was Ari Velasco with 13 points and Madi Babasa with 10.
Hosting Ripon on Jan. 23, it was a showdown of the top teams in league.
“We were 3-1 coming in and they were 4-0,” said Dalpogetti of the visiting Lady Indians. “Unfortunately, we came out flat and our second half push fell short.”
Escalon did beat Ripon earlier this season in tournament play but that saw them without two of their starters.
“This time around they box-and-oned Ari and we had a hard time scoring,” Dalpogetti said of the Ripon game plan.
Escalon trailed 19-12 at the half. They did battle back in the second half and climbed all the way back, even taking a lead briefly in the fourth quarter. But the visitors prevailed with a 43-40 final, a three-point attempt for the tie at the buzzer by Escalon falling short.
“Madi (Babasa) had all her 13 points in the second half,” said the coach. “Aiden Hohenwarter had 13 as well.”
Friday, the girls traveled to Orestimba, the teams knotted for second at the start of the night.
“We led 9-5 after one but exploded in the second for 21 points and led 30-17 at half,” Dalpogetti explained. “We did build up a 20-point lead at one point in the second half and won 60-43.”
Big games came from Velasco, with 21 points, while Ayana Cocio hit for 16 points including four three’s and Hohenwarter added 15 in the win.
“We are 11-10 overall and 4-2 in league sitting in second,” Dalpogetti said. “Two games back from Ripon so unfortunately we would need someone else to help us out in the second round of league to have a shot at the title.”
The girls were scheduled to start second half play on Tuesday, Jan. 28 after The Times went to press, hosting Sonora. That was one of their two losses in the first half of TVL play.
Friday, the girls will take the court as part of a Homecoming triple header, as the JV boys will play at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity girls with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
The varsity boys close out the Jan. 31 contests starting at 7 p.m.; all teams will face off against Hilmar.
