Old rivals Buffalo Island Central and Riverside met in the quarterfinals of the 2A-3 district tournament Tuesday night at Monette with a regional tournament berth riding on the outcome. Host BIC pulled away late and held on for a 39-33 victory over the Rebels, sending the Mustangs into Thursday’s semifinals against top seeded Bay.
The two teams were deadlocked 30-30 with 6:08 remaining in the game when Devin Pemberton powered home an offensive stick-back to put BIC on top, 32-30. A Steven Stroud free throw sliced the BIC lead to 32-31 at the 4:46 mark, but Kaleb Dublin answered with a 10-foot pullup jumper to push the Mustang advantage to 34-31. After a Riverside miss, John Garrett Edwards banged home a long triple with 5:04 left, and suddenly the Mustangs were up 37-31. Gage Crews brought the Rebels to within 37-33 with 2:00 remaining, but that would be Riverside’s last points of the game.
The two teams battled to a 7-7 draw after the first quarter before BIC
outscored the Rebels 14-5 in the second period to pull ahead 21-12 at intermission. Edwards and Eli Cordero sparked the second half BIC rally by dropping in a three pointer each.
Riverside fought back in the third period behind the scoring of Traven
Weaver and Stroud, who pitched in six points apiece during the frame.
Stroud’s 15-foot jumper at the 45 second mark gave the Rebels a 27-25
lead, capping off a 15-4 Riverside run, but Edwards answered for the Mustangs by draining a three pointer just before the buzzer sounded to put BIC back on top, 28-27.
BIC placed eight players in the scoring column, led by Edward’s nine
points. Kyle Thrasher had eight, Pemberton scored seven, Cordero netted five while Dublin and Tate Schooley contributed three points apiece. Blaine Wildy and Whit Cagle chipped in two points each. The Mustangs made two of four free throws and sank five three pointers.
Stroud posted a game high 16 points to lead the Rebels. Weaver had
seven, Crews scored five, Ethan Boatman and Carson Bell had two points
apiece while Justin Berry added one point. Riverside hit just 5-11 foul shots and failed to make a three pointer.