Colts outlast Helena Cougars, 54-45

Just two games into the their season, the Rivercrest Colts are still trying to get their basketball legs after a run to the 4A State Championship football game.

Led by sophomore Fran Robinson’s 17 points and senior Koby Turner’s 14, the Colts (2-0) outlasted the Helena Cougars, 54-45, Friday in day one action of the Warren Barbee Colt Classic.

Trailing 5-0 early after a pair of Jordan Bailey buckets, Rivercrest doubled up Helena, 14-7, over the balance of the first quarter. The Colts didn’t relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.

Rivercrest’s Kash Span drives to the basket as he is defended by Helena’s Devon Green during the nightcap game of the Warren Barbee Colt Classic at Luxora. Span scored five points in the 54-45 win over the Cougars. (Photos By David Pierce)

Rivercrest outscored Helena by 10 in the second period leading 30-18 at the break before reeling off six of first eight points to gain their biggest advantage of the game at 36-20.

Yet, Helena (4-6) rallied to closed within eight behind the defensive presence of Treyzaughn Johnson who fronted the Cougars full court pressure.

Rivercrest, which missed four free throws over that stretch, was able to snap the 8-0 run when Robinson tipped in a miss just before the third quarter buzzer sounded.

The Colts led by as many as 14 in the final period when Buddah Harris found Robinson in the open for an easy deuce. The lead remained double digits for much of the fourth quarter before Helena closed the gap to eight with just under a minute to play when Xavier Stallings scored from inside after a couple of Cougar misses.

Rivercrest’s Cavonta Washington, who scored five points, sank 1-of-2 free throws to set the final at 54-45.

Harris chipped in eight points for the Colts, while Kash Span tallied five. Jayden Young, the Colts starting point guard, scored five in limited play. The sophomore did not play in the second half as he nursed an ankle injury he sustained in Rivercrest’s season opener against Gosnell.

Helena’s Bailey tied Robinson for game-high honors with 17 points, while Stallings reached double figures, too, with 10 – all in the fourth quarter.