Stockton Kings forward Isaac Jones (3) throws down on the Rip City Remix’s forward Henri Drell (55) at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton on Sun Dec 15, 2024 (Stockton Kings X photo)

By William Espy

STOCKTON–For the second time in three days, the Stockton Kings hosted the Rip City Remix at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton. The Remix took Sunday’s second game 103-98 in Stockton. The Remix led by Henri Drell in scoring with 22 points.

The game started off similarly to their previous meeting, as the Kings went on a long run before the Remix were able to get on the scoreboard. Stockton pulled out to a quick double-digit lead, but once again Rip City fought their way back into it, tying it up with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter.

The Remix would actually take the lead before the end of the quarter, making it 31-30.

Rip City would maintain and extend that lead in the second quarter. Stockton trailed 59-44 heading into half-time. Henri Drell picked up where he left off in the last meeting, leading his team in scoring with 17 points heading into the break. Meanwhile, there was only a single player on Stockton in double-digits, Isaac Jones with 10. The Kings were struggling to make any shots, as they were 35.7% from the field. Rip City also had seven steals, which was the difference maker to this point in the game.

The Remix continued to pull away a bit at the start of the third quarter, but the pace was starting to pick up as the frame progressed. The Kings were starting to run out of time, and that was reflected in the way they were starting to play. Unfortunately for them though, the Remix thrive in high-paced situations.

Stockton was trailing by more than 20 points late in the third when Isaac Jones’s highlight reel dunk over the Rip City defender seemed to spark the home team. Heading into the final frame, the Kings trailed 85-65 so they’d need to make a dent in the Remix’s lead very quickly if they wanted a chance of walking away victorious.

That moment certainly ended up being a turning point, as the Kings went on an 8-0 midway through the final quarter, reducing the Remix’s lead to 92-85 with quite a bit of time remaining. With two minutes remaining, it was a three-point game. A late three-pointer by Alex Reese made it a four-point game, and Stockton took their last timeout with 17.1 seconds remaining. Colby Jones missed a three, and the Kings were forced to foul Justin Minaya with nine seconds left. He missed the first but made the second free throw to put the game essentially out of reach.

Rip City’s 103-98 victory was their first on the road this season, while it was also the Kings’ first loss at home. Drell’s 22 points led the Remix, while Isaac Jones had 31 points and 15 rebounds for Stockton in a losing effort.

The Kings will get back at it again tomorrow night, as they host the top team in the West, the Valley Suns in the second half of a back-to-back.