Rebels celebrate homecoming with victories over Cross County

Riverside celebrated its 2011 Homecoming with a 57-28 victory over Cross County, and in the process picked up its first 2A-3 conference win of the season Friday night at Lake City.

Rebel Hunter Wilkinson (44) drives past a Cross County defender in Riverside's 42-30 victory over the Thunderbirds in junior high basketball action Friday night at Lake City.

The Rebels (8-11, 1-6 2A-3) held a slim 14-10 edge after the first quarter but outscored the Thunderbirds 11-4 in the second stanza to take a 25-14 lead into the dressing room at the half. Riverside broke the game open in the third period behind the outside shooting of sophomore Caleb Waugh, who drilled back to back three pointers, pushing the Rebel lead to 40-19 with 3:32 left in the quarter. Junior post Alteeno Sain followed with a conventional three point play and back to back buckets from Logan Meurer capped off a 15-2 Riverside run, giving the Rebels a 47-23 lead heading into the final frame.

Waugh finished the night with a game high 17 points, including five three pointers to lead three Rebels in double figures. Sain and Meurer also hit double digits, scoring 12 and 10 points respectively. Morgan Fletcher tallied six, Dylan Wright scored four, Jacob Jordan netted three, Logan Moyer and James Boness contributed two points apiece while Michael George added one point to round out the Rebel scoring on the night.

Riverside connected on 11-19 free throws and finished with six treys.

Devin Moore and Dylan Hudson scored nine points apiece to lead the Thunderbirds while Taylor Houston pitched in seven. Cross County hit one of four foul shots and made three treys.

Riverside's Grant Mason (25) battles an unidentifed junior Thunderbird for possession of the basketball Friday night at Lake City. The junior Rebels defeated Cross County 42-30 on Homecoming. (Town Crier photos/Trent Fletcher)

The junior Rebels also celebrated a Homecoming victory with a 42-30 win over the T-Birds. The Rebels surged to a 30-3 lead after the first period and held a commanding 38-8 advantage at the half. Riverside took a 42-17 advantage into the final quarter of play.

Kollin Stone led Riverside with 12 points while Brandon Sain and Hunter Wilkinson netted eight points apiece. Gavin Stone tallied six, Victor Cerda scored four while Brett Snyder and Brandon Towery scored two points each.

The Rebels began the week, dropping a 51-34 decision in senior high conference play Tuesday night at Walnut Ridge. Zach Crisler scored 15 points to lead the Bobcats. Riverside led 14-12 after the opening quarter before Walnut Ridge rallied to take a 26-25 edge at the half. The Bobcats outscored the Rebels 14-2 in the third period to pull away for a 40-27 advantage entering the final period of play.

Riverside's Homecoming Court are, from left: Front - Junior high maids Dakota Hale and Katie Adams; senior high maids Haven Crews and Kenzley Wilson. Middle - Junior high maids Gattlin Hale, Alanna Carroll and Hannah Browning; senior high maids Amber Fletcher, Hannah Pettit and Megan Gammon. Back - Junior high homecoming queen Bailey Davis and senior high homecoming queen Kayla Rolland. Flower girl Sophie Bell and crown bearer Landon Lunsford.

Logan Meurer and Dylan Wright led the Rebels with eight points apiece while Morgan Fletcher netted six. Brandon Sain scored four, Brock Adams and Jacob Jordan tallied three points apiece while James Boness pitched in two to round out the Rebel offensive attack.

In junior high play, Riverside steamrolled the Bobcats 58-29. The Rebels (19-3, 6-1 2A-3) were led by Kollin Stone who poured in a game high 18 points, including four three pointers. Gavin Stone drilled three treys while scoring 11 points. Victor Cerda also tallied 11 points on the night. Hunter Wilkinson netted six, Levi Reed contributed five, Brandon Sain had four while Luke Baker added three points for the Rebels, who drained 12 treys on the night.

Riverside held a 19-3 lead after the first quarter and upped its margin to 30-10 at the half. The Rebels took a 49-22 advantage into the fourth period.

The senior Rebels will open play in the Northeast Arkansas Invitational Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro. The 12th seeded Rebels will battle fifth seeded Marmaduke in a 6 p.m. tipoff.