Rebels close regular season with 47-36 win over Brookland

Riverside overcame Brookland's methodical style of play and went on to hand the Bearcats a 47-36 defeat in senior boys basketball action Friday night at Lake City.

The game was two and a half minutes old before the Bearcats scored the game's first points on a 15-foot jumper by David Ballard. Riverside didn't score until the 3:54 mark when Gavin Stone converted a three-point play, putting the Rebels on top to stay, 3-2. Stone followed with a long three-pointer and a 10-foot pullup jumper to increase Riverside's lead to 10-6, but Braxton Haff closed the first quarter with a triple of his own, trimming the Rebel edge to 10-9.

Riverside began the second stanza with a 10-0 run to grab a 20-9 advantage. Five different players contributed to the Rebel scoring surge. Braden Overman kicked off the spurt with a medium range jumper, followed by Chris Sain's inside bucket. Stone knocked down a jump shot just inside the three- point line before Dylan Austin canned a pair of free throws. Jon Milligan's offensive stick-back closed the Riverside rally. Tyler Harrell broke the Bearcat scoring drought with a lay-in at the 3:35 mark. The two teams traded buckets before Stone's coast to coast layup at the halftime buzzer gave the Rebels a 24-13 lead at intermission.

Riverside's Gavin Stone gets scissored by a pair of Brookland defenders during Friday night's game at Lake City. Stone poured in a game high 25 points to help Riverside defeat the Bearcats 47-36.

Riverside threatened to blow the game open in the third quarter after a pair of Stone treys gave the Rebels a 34-21 lead, but the Bearcats clawed back, hitting four consecutive foul shots to end the quarter trailing 39-29. Brookland would get no closer than nine points in the final frame as the Rebels secured the victory and improved to 25-9 overall and 11-4 in conference play.

Stone pumped in a game high 25 points to lead the Rebels. Overman, Milligan and Austin all scored six points each. Overman grabbed seven boards while Milligan had six rebounds. Chris Sain finished with four points and six rebounds.

Ballard topped the Bearcats with 12 points. Riverside's full court press forced Brookland into 21 turnovers.

"It's not the kind of pace we like to play, but I thought we did a good job of adapting," said Riverside Coach Buster Campbell. "It shows we can play against any type team or any tempo. I was very pleased with the effort tonight."

In the senior B game, Brookland downed Riverside 44-36. Ethan Cash led the Rebels with 15 points. Garrett Grimes scored five, Landon Moyer, Brody Davis and Steven Stroud all tallied four points apiece while Keech Wilmoth and Carson Bell chipped in two points each.

Riverside played host to Trumann Tuesday night and declawed the Wildcats 85-66. Trumann held a 14-11 lead after the opening break before the Rebels stormed back to take a 34-21 advantage at the half. Riverside took a 57-44 lead into the final frame.

Stone poured in 29 points and dished out 10 assists to record a double-double. The senior sharpshooter also connected on 8-9 foul shots. Sain just missed a double-double, scoring 19 points while pulling down nine rebounds. Austin delivered 21 points, Overman netted eight, Milligan had six while Moyer pitched in two points. The Rebels sank 21-28 free throws and nailed four three pointers.

Kelon Booker banged home six three pointers and finished with a team high 23 points to pace Trumann. Ben Turner added 14 points. Trumann went 6-7 from the foul stripe and drained 10 triples.

In junior high action, Riverside bowed out of the 3A District Tournament, losing to Piggott 40-34 Monday night at Piggott. The two squads battled to a 12-12 draw after the first quarter before the Mohawks grabbed a 21-15 halftime lead. Piggott held a 29-24 advantage after three periods of play.

Ryker Little paced the Mohawks with 11 points. Gage Crews topped Riverside with 14 while Demo Bowers had 10. Ryan Austin scored four while Traven Weaver and Grayson Emery added three points apiece.

Riverside will open 3A District Tournament play Tuesday night at Osceola. The number two seeded Rebels out of the East will face the third seed from the West, Walnut Ridge, at 5:30.