Ripon Christian erases first-half deficit to win program’s 12th blue banner
Ripon Christian boys basketball coach Mark Hofman can’t get Eli Terpsma to go home.
The 6-foot-3 senior spends hours on the shooting machine and has spent the past few weeks taking extra free throws after practice.
“Eli is at the gym when I drive up,” Hofman said. “He’s at the gym after practice, shooting and shooting and shooting. I’m like, ‘Eli, go home.’”
In the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship Saturday, all of his extra work was on display at Golden 1 Center as he helped the Knights overcome an eight-point halftime deficit.
Terpsma went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line and scored the team’s final eight points as the Knights beat Fortune Early College, 58-54, to secure their 12th blue banner in program history.
Terpsma is a two-time section champion. He was a freshman on the team in 2020 that beat Stockton Christian, 73-56. He contributed four points then after being called up from junior varsity for the playoffs.
This year, he finished as the team’s leader, scoring 12 of his game-high 19 points in the second half, fueling the comeback.
“My freshman year, I just tried to do my job and not make too much noise,” he said. “But now, I need to step up every game. I did not do that for most of it. … Free throws were just a way to work back after an off shooting night.”
After an impressive shooting display in Wednesday’s section semifinals, the Knights struggled to find their rhythm Saturday. The Panthers had three players with six points apiece and held a 25-17 lead at halftime.
“That first half was a grind,” said assistant coach Mark Vos. “We couldn’t score, but we looked up and they only had 25.”
Terpsma opened the third-quarter scoring with a midrange jumper, igniting a fire from outside.
Luke Crivello knocked down three momentum-changing, third-quarter three-pointers as the Knights outscored Fortune Early College 21-8.
“When I hit the first one, I knew I had to keep hitting them,” said Crivello, who finished with 12 points on four threes. “Our team was struggling to score the ball and I knew I had to step up in a big time.”
Ripon Christian was good offensively but even better on defense, switching between 3-2 zone and man-to-man schemes to throw off the Panthers’ rhythm.
Jace Beidleman and Thys Van Der Hoek were on the floor together most of the third, challenging Panther shots, running the floor and grabbing any rebound in their vicinity.
Beidleman finished with four points and 15 rebounds, while Van Der Hoek added a 14-point, 10-rebound double double off the bench.
“Over the last couple weeks, we added different zone looks … and these guys just picked it up.” said assistant coach Jason Hofman.
Elijah Thompson and Tyree Rose led the charge for the Panthers in a back-and-forth final quarter, but when the Knights needed points to close out the game, Terpsma was there to answer.
Which title feels better for the captain?
“This one,” he said without hesitation. “I’ve been with this team the entire time. I’ve grown up with these guys. The other team was awesome, but there’s just something different about it as a senior rather than a freshman.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 4:47 PM.
