Rivercrest loses to Brookland in NEA Invitational finals

Rivercrest couldn't find a way to stop Brookland's offense as the Colts were handed a 63-45 loss in the finals of the boys' Division 1 bracket in the NEA Invitational Tournament this past Saturday in Jonesboro.

Kash Span gave the Colts the early 3-0 lead with a three-pointer. Brookland answered with a three-ball and one of two free throws to make it 4-3 Bearcats early. Cavonta Washington scored in the paint for Rivercrest, Brookland hit triple twine and Washington hit a jumper for Rivercrest making to tie the game at seven with 2:36 left. The Bearcats scored the next six points before Jayden Young scored inside right before the buzzer to make the score 13-9 Brookland at the end of the first quarter.

Fran Robinson canned a three-ball to open the second quarter and Brookland's answering three-pointer made the score 16-12 Bearcats. Buddah Harris converted an old-school three-point play for the Colts, Brookland canned a three-ball and the Colts Koby Turner got a stick back basket to make it 19-17 Bearcats. Brookland scored in the paint, Harris got inside for a basket for the Colts only to see Brookland hit back to back jumpers to make the score 25-19 with 3:27 left. Harris then hit one of two free throws for Rivercrest, Brookland got a basket in the paint, Young converted an old-fashioned three-point play for the Colts before the Bearcats got a basket down low and hit a three-ball to make the score 32-23 at halftime.

Fran Robinson of Rivercrest shoots a jumper in the lane during boys' Division 1 finals action at the NEA Invitational Tournament this past Saturday. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Brookland opened the third quarter with an 11-2 run. The Colts Young hit two free throws during the run as the Bearcats pushed their lead to 43-25 with 3:20 left. The Colts then scored the next seven points as Robinson hit one of two free throws, Washington got a stick back, Robinson got a steal and lay up before Young scored after a goal tending call on Brookland to make the score 43-32. The Bearcats hit a jumper, Young hit a jumper in the lane for the Colts, Brookland canned a three-ball before Harris converted a conventional three-point play to make it 48-37 Bearcats after three quarters.

The Bearcats pushed their lead to 52-37 early in the fourth quarter before Washington scored in the paint for the Colts making it 52-39 Brookland. The Bearcats scored the next six points before back to back three-pointers from Robinson and Washington made it 58-45 Brookland with 2:07 left in the game. Brookland scored the last five points of the game to take the 63-45 win.

“We played a really good team and this was good for us in the long haul for when we reach regionals and the state tournament. I thought the boys battled and rebounded well in the first half but missed some opportunities early,” Rivercrest head coach Hunter Robinson said after the game. “We had to chase people around being down the second half and that gave Brookland some open looks. I tip my had to Coach Bobby Gross and Brookland. This was a game we can build on going forward,” Robinson added.

Washington and Young led the Colts with 11 points each while Harris and Robinson scored nine points each for Rivercrest.

The Colts got to the title game by beating Piggott 65-27 in the opening round and Tuckerman 54-51 in the quarter-finals as Young had 17 points and Washington finished with 11 points. Rivercrest beat Batesville 52-48 in the semi-finals.