LOCAL ROUNDUP: Yuba men survive test at Merritt

Trailing late once again, the Yuba College men's basketball team found yet another way to rally back.

Chris Smith scored 17 points, Gary Melvin added 16 more and the 49ers overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half to earn a hard-fought 77-74 Bay Valley Conference victory over Merritt College in Oakland on Wednesday night.

"Don't ask me how, but this team keeps doing it," said Yuba coach Doug Cornelius, who praised associate head coach Ken Griffin for the win. "I've been out the last two days with the flu, so a lot of credit goes to Griff for getting these guys ready to go."

Akachi Okugo chipped in with 10 points and six assists, Achoki Moikobu had nine points and six assists and Jeremy Bubier dropped in eight points and came down with nine rebounds for Yuba (14-6), which trailed by 12 points at halftime.

Vic West Jr. came through with nine big points off the bench to help lead the comeback.

The 49ers ended the first half of BVC play with an 8-0 record and will begin the second half at home against Solano on Friday night.

HIGH SCHOOL

GIRLS BASKETBALL

River Valley 61, Woodland 27

In Yuba City — Senior guard Aleqse Hawkins filled out the stat sheet with an 11-point, nine-steal, eight-assist effort, and the Falcons remained unbeaten in Tri-County Conference play with an easy victory over the Wolves.

Jagreet Gosal chipped in with 10 points, Amrita Dale had seven points and eight steals and Danielle Soba scored seven points for River Valley, which improved to a perfect 4-0 in the TCC with the win.

The Falcons (14-6) will close out the first cycle of conference play Friday night at cross-town rival Yuba City.

Marysville 50, Lindhurst 34

In Olivehurst — Junior Bayshta Aguila finished with a game-high 21 points to help lead the Indians to a Golden Empire League victory over the rival Blazers.

Hayley Gibson scored 10 points and Holly Tarr recorded eight points while pulling down 19 rebounds to help Marysville (10-12) up its mark to 2-3 in GEL play.

Sarah May recorded in 14 points and 14 rebounds, Vanessa Salas had nine points and 12 rebounds, and Mirian Corona scored nine points to lead the way for the Blazers (3-13, 0-5).

WRESTLING

Sutter 69, Gridley 18

In Sutter — The Huskies received seven wins by way of forfeit en route to a Butte View League victory over the Bulldogs.

Hunter Minton (132 pounds), Riley Vickner (172) and Trevor Holt (220) each won by pin for Sutter, while Micah Cervantes (138) won by decision.

With the win, the Huskies improved to 4-0 in dual meets this season.

Woodland 57, Yuba City 21

In Woodland — Thomas Bishop (147) and Westley McMahon (197) both recorded pins, but the Honkers came up short in their TCC dual meet against the Wolves.

Cody McMahon (184) picked up a win by decision for Yuba City (11-7, 2-2).

JV GIRLS BASKETBALL

Marysville 36, Lindhurst 20

In Olivehurst — Delaney Rodrigues tallied nine points and five steals, and Ajza Matta recorded seven points and four steals to help lift the Indians (9-13, 3-2) to a GEL victory over the Blazers.

JV BOYS BASKETBALL

River Valley 67, Woodland 33

In Woodland — Rohin Basi put up a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Falcons to a TCC win over the Wolves on Tuesday night.

Devin Cates added 13 points and eight assists for RV (10-6, 3-1).