Calaveras uses fast start to secure home win

It’s no secret that players and coaches scoreboard-watch.

After games, questions get asked about this team and that team, and who won and who lost. Players and coaches compare their scores against one team to how other teams previously fared against that same opponent.

On Jan. 27, the Calaveras High School boys’ basketball team heard that the Riverbank Bruins had built a double-digit lead over the first-place Bret Harte Bullfrogs, only to lose by two points. Knowing the Bruins took the Bullfrogs – who have only one loss on the season – to the limit may have forced the Red Hawks to take Riverbank more seriously than they otherwise might have, especially since Calaveras had already knocked off the Bruins 48-34 earlier in the season.

Coming off a 79-point offensive explosion against Linden three days earlier, the Red Hawks picked up right where they left off, scoring 35 points in the first half against the Bruins. A slow second half allowed Riverbank back into the game, but Calaveras was able to keep the Bruins in check late in the fourth quarter to secure a 10-point victory.

Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Calaveras defeated Riverbank 60-50 Friday night on Kraig Clifton Court inside Mike Flock Gym in San Andreas.

“The fact that they were up by 18 on Bret Harte at one point just shows that they’re playing hard and that they are not going to come in here and lay down,” Calaveras head coach Jeremy Malamed said about Riverbank. “They’re going to play hard. They’re improving, so you’ve got to take them seriously. And we want to be playing for that league title in the last game of the year here, and we know we can’t do it if we skip steps. So, we’ve got to come out and focus every game.”

Calaveras scored 18 points in the opening quarter, with junior Cohen Curran scoring eight points and Mason Wright chipping in six, which included an and-1 basket. Senior Connor Fuller also completed a 3-point play, and at the end of the opening eight minutes, Calaveras led 18-13.

“We were just moving the ball and sharing it and we were all knocking down our shots,” Curran said about the first-quarter success.

Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

The Red Hawks outscored Riverbank 17-7 in the second quarter. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, senior Ryan Clifton drained two 3-point baskets for six of his eight points. Junior Aaron Koepp also hit from downtown, while Wright, Fuller and Curran each scored two points apiece. At halftime, the Red Hawks led 35-20.

“I thought we had a really good first half,” Malamed said. “We were looking to get out and run, and we were looking to exploit our matchups inside. I thought that was the best inside play we’ve had all year. It was great to see Mason Wright going like that and we were kind of finding those matchups.”

Calaveras was outscored by Riverbank in the final two quarters. In the third quarter, Riverbank scored 11 points while Calaveras countered with nine. Fuller led the way with five points, including his only 3-point basket of the night, and Curran added four points. Despite being outscored by two in the quarter, Calaveras led 44-31 heading into the final period.

Calaveras scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, but many of those came late. With less than four minutes to play, the Red Hawks’ lead had dwindled to six points. Even with Riverbank clawing back into the game, Curran wasn’t worried about the lead changing hands.

Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

“All we had to do was just lock back in and make some defensive stops and knock down some shots, and I felt like we were fine,” Curran said.

Calaveras made those defensive stands in the final minutes to seal the 10-point win. Clifton scored eight points in the fourth quarter, followed by Curran with six and Wright with two.

“The second half just felt a little more sluggish, and to their credit, they were playing really good pressure defense, which made it hard for us to get into some of our offense on the perimeter,” Malamed said about the difference between the first and second half. “They had some good offensive plays, too. I feel like Riverbank’s the most improved team in the league I’ve seen. Obviously, they played Bret Harte tough, and they were good against us in the first game, and they’re definitely getting better, which is a sign of a good team. So, they’re going to be trouble for a lot of teams this back half.”

When asked if he was disappointed with the defense allowing Riverbank back into the game in the fourth quarter, Malamed said, “I thought we could have done a better job defensively and the things we were giving up were things that we’ve kind of given up before. I want to make sure we’re not slacking off. The things we were giving up were things that we’ve been working on, not giving up. So, yeah, it was a little frustrating to see us let down the defensive end a little bit. I thought the last few minutes we got our top defensive unit out there and they picked it up and kind of sealed the win for us.”

Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Curran finished with a game-high 20 points, followed by Clifton with 16, Wright with 11, Fuller with 10 and Koepp with three.

Calaveras (15-9, 5-1 MLL) remains one game behind Bret Harte (22-1, 6-0 MLL) for first place in the Mother Lode League standings. With two victories following Calaveras’ 49-40 road loss to the Bullfrogs, Curran likes the way the team has responded and is looking forward to the final four games of league play, especially the rematch with Bret Harte on the final day of the regular season.

“It feels like we’re getting there,” Curran said. “Our team’s starting to play together again and we’re starting to get some good momentum going. It’s still just one game at a time; keep the train moving.”
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Calaveras vs. Riverbank
Calaveras 60, Riverbank 50

RB – 13, 7, 11, 19 – 50
Cal – 18, 17, 9, 16 – 60

Calaveras Individual Statistics
Points – Koepp, 3; Clifton, 16; Wright, 11; Curran, 20; Fuller, 10
3-point baskets – Koepp, 1; Clifton, 3; Fuller, 1
Free throws – House, 0-2; Clifton, 3-4; Wright, 1-1; Curran, 2-2; Fuller, 1-1
Fouls – Koepp, 1; House, 1; Clifton, 1; Wright, 3

Calaveras Season Scoring Totals
Koepp, 264; Fuller, 245; Curran, 190; Clifton, 162; House, 127; Wright, 84; Wilson, 70; Malamed, 43; Young, 35; Cardona, 20; Long, 17

Calaveras 2025-26 Boys’ Basketball
Nov. 21 at Waterford (W) 59-41
Nov. 25 at Amador (W) 62-49
Dec. 2 vs. Galt (W) 46-18
Dec. 4 vs. Enochs (L) 63-47
Dec. 5 vs. Cordova (L) 55-45
Dec. 6 vs. Waterford (W) 57-20
Dec. 9 vs. Atwater (L) 60-43
Dec. 11 vs. Sonora (W) 39-22
Dec. 12 vs. Manteca (L) 51-46 (OT)
Dec. 13 vs. Central Valley (L) 48-45
Dec. 18 at Escalon (W) 54-49
Dec. 23 at Johansen (L) 52-45
Dec. 27 at Healdsburg (W) 61-56 OT
Dec. 30 vs. Liberty Ranch (L) 46-38
Jan. 2 vs. Tehachapi (W) 71-51
Jan. 3 vs. Lathrop (L) 48-37
Jan. 7 at Orestimba (W) 68-27
Jan. 9 at Riverbank (W) 48-34
Jan. 13 at Chavez (W) 43-34
Jan. 16 vs. Summerville (W) 66-42
Jan. 20 vs. Big Valley Christian (W) 45-29
Jan. 23 at Bret Harte (L) 49-40
Jan. 27 vs. Linden (W) 79-33
Jan. 30 vs. Riverbank (W) 60-50
Feb. 3 at Big Valley Christian, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Summerville, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 10 at Linden, 7:15 p.m.
Feb. 13 vs. Bret Harte, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 30 results
Bret Harte 62, Summerville 49
Calaveras 60, Riverbank 50
Big Valley Christian 85, Linden 43

Mother Lode League Standings
Bret Harte 22-1 (6-0)
Calaveras 15-9 (5-1)
Big Valley Christian 15-6 (4-2)
Riverbank 9-12 (2-4)
Summerville 6-13 (1-5)
Linden 4-14 (0-6)