Colts shake off rust, upend Harrisburg

WILSON – Fran Robinson and Jayden Young combined for 40 of Rivercrest’s 68 points as the Colts resumed basketball for the first time in a week Saturday with a 13-point win over Harrisburg.

Rivercrest (15-2, 5-0 3-3A) shook off the week-old rust by pulling away from the visiting Hornets (4-17, 1-6) with a 35-22 advantage over the second and third periods. That ballooned a 17-14 first quarter lead to a 52-36 advantage by the end of three quarters.  

Harrisburg was within five at 26-21 with under a minute in the first half when Axel Heeb drained a three off an assist from Jakobe Tate. The Hornet reserve had three of the team’s 11 assists in the game.

Eastin Gray shoots for two as Buddah Harris (3) inches toward him during Saturday’s 3-3A Conference game between Harrisburg and Rivercrest. Gray was limited in minutes as he was plagued by foul trouble.

However, two Young baskets in close stretched the lead to 30-21 before JP Rowtan scored in the paint to close the gap to seven as the second quarter ended.

When second half play began, Rivercrest reeled off 10 of the first 13 points as Young accounted for five, Kash Span three with Cavonta Washington culminating the run with a hoop in the paint.

An Eastin Gray old-fashion three-point play halted the run leaving the score at 40-29. The damage was done though as the Hornets came no closer.

Rivercrest swelled its lead to as many as 18 when Buddah Harris drove the lane for two to make the score 54-36 as the fourth quarter opened.

Robinson, who blocked three shots, scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half, including eight in the final 3:13 of the third quarter. The sophomore also had two steals.

In addition to his 20, Young had nine assists. Four Colt players each scored seven including Harris, Span, Washington and Maddox Barber.

Tate led the Hornets with 17 points – 15 in the second half. Axel Heeb tallied 12 with nine coming on three-pointers. Rowtan’s 11 points gave Harrisburg three double figure scorers.

Rivercrest shot 47 percent from the field, while Harrisburg managed just 38 percent. The Hornets were plagued by turnovers as Rivercrest forced 10, plus had 13 steals.