The week didn’t play out the way Escalon’s varsity girls had hoped, losing two contests in Trans-Valley League basketball action.

They lost to Ripon Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 31 by a 41-36 final.

“We led 20-12 at halftime,” said head coach Joseph Dalpogetti. “It was a low-scoring game for the first half. We knew they were going to run a 2-3 zone that also doubled as a box and one on Shelby (McCune) so we game planned for that scenario.”

Dalpogetti said they were able to get some stops and find enough good shots to get the lead before half.

The teams played even early in the second half but the Lady Knights went on a big run in the final two minutes of the third quarter, leading it by three points, 29-26, at the end of the frame.

“We kept it a one possession game for most of the fourth but we could never make the play we needed to take back the lead,” admitted Dalpogetti. “It was a game that will carry a lot of playoff implications going into this week.”

McCune had 13 points in the tough loss and Sylvia Guevara added 10.

Ripon Christian converted on 10 of 13 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

Against Ripon on Thursday night, the girls took a 50-41 loss.

“We had a slow start and got down 17-10 after one quarter,” Dalpogetti said.

Chipping away at the Ripon lead, the Escalon varsity girls kept it close, mostly a two possession game through most of the second quarter.

“They went on a huge run near the end of the quarter to go up 36-20 at the half,” noted the coach. “We trailed by nearly 20 points most of the second half. We made a late push and cut it to nine.”

Though they made the run, the Lady Cougars couldn’t take advantage of their free throw opportunities, missing eight free throws, including five in a row at one point.

“The end of the game could have been more interesting,” Dalpogetti said, had the girls made those free throws.

McCune had 24 points and 15 rebounds, Guevara had five points.

The girls went into this week with a record of 12-11 overall, 4-5 in Trans-Valley League play.

They were scheduled to host Hughson on Monday, will be at Hilmar on Thursday and close out the regular season with a home game against Mountain House on Friday, Feb. 9, which will also be Senior Night.

Those senior players to be recognized include Daisy Camacho, Tatiana Martinez, Shelby McCune, Emily McPherrin and Priscilla Nowling. Recognition will be prior to the 7:30 p.m. tipoff.