RV comes up short

If Thursday night's game is any indication, the River Valley High girl's basketball team isn't far off from making serious waves in the Tri-County Conference.

Fresh off their first league victory in school history in a 60-40 win over Yuba City on Tuesday night, the Falcons gave TCC front-runner Inderkum all they can handle in the first half before withering after the intermission and falling 57-39 at home in the Falcons Nest.

"We try to play good defense and pressure the ball full court," Inderkum coach Marty Tateishi said. "We have some good athletes and we're 9, 10 and 11 deep so we wear teams down. We just wore them down and were able to pull away in the second half."

Led by junior guard Jasmine Pedraza's six first-quarter points, River Valley (5-14, 1-5) took a 10-9 lead into the second period.

The Falcons continued their strong play in the second quarter and — paced by Alex Rainey's five second-period points — trailed at the half by just two, 25-23.

"The last four games we came out and got ahead early and showed from the beginning that we're not going to play from behind," said River Valley coach Michelle Quist "It comes down to just learning how to pull it out in the end."

The Tigers (11-9, 5-1) took control of the game in the third period thanks in large part to their full-court press. After committing just seven turnovers before halftime, the Falcons were harassed into six turnovers in the third period alone while being outscored 17-10 in the quarter.

The nine-point cushion was more than enough for the visitors, who used an 11-2 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Falcons.

In all, River Valley committed 16 turnovers in the second half, while shooting just 33 percent (8-of-24) after the intermission.

"We've been trying to make them believe that we're a good team and our win-loss record doesn't show the success this team has had," Quist said. "The girls have come a long way and make all the work we've put in worth it."

Yesenia Medina led the Falcons with 12 points, including six in the third period, while adding four rebounds and two assists. Pedraza added eight points, six rebounds and a block and junior center Hayley Thompson was a force in the paint, finishing with 11 points and four rebounds.

"We were on our heels in the first half and had a tough time stopping (Pedraza's) penetration," Tateishi said. "River Valley's scrappy and I love their center — she's tough."

Rainey finished with five points and Sarah Moratto dropped in three to complete the scoring for River Valley.

Inderkum had 12 players score. Brea Blevins led the team with eight points.

"We did excellent," Quist added. "We knew we would have to fight, but we're making progress and using the experience to build for the future."

River Valley will play at Woodland Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Contact sports reporter at 743-0512 or email him at aarrenquin@appeal-democrat.com.