Rivalry begins when two teams have seemingly equal competition. This year, Ripon Girls Basketball versed their rival, Escalon, on Jan. 11 at Escalon High School. In the first half, Ripon came out with determination to defeat their rival, but due to Escalon’s quick thinking and agility, Ripon had a tough competitor. Unfortunately, Ripon was defeated, with the final score being  29-62. 

Senior Vanessa Ponce, explains, “I think I performed my best to a certain extent, but as a team I feel that we could’ve done better to break the press.”

Freshman Ava Hernandez states, “I believe we as a team could’ve communicated better throughout the game.” Ripon could’ve broken Escalon’s defense and communicated better throughout the game. 

Like the team’s basketball skills, the team’s chemistry is only improving as the season goes on. Ponce states, “As the season is progressing I think our team chemistry is getting better, and I think we need to find our rhythm as we go on. But it’s definitely improving.”

 To work efficiently with each other, the basketball team must be willing to welcome people into their team, such as new players and lowerclassmen. Hernandez explains, “At the beginning there is pressure but now I’m more comfortable because all the upperclassmen are really welcoming.”  

Although Ripon lost, they’re constantly working to improve their skills and their communication with each other.