Huge second half pushes Lady Rebels past BIC

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection Team

LAKE CITY - The Riverside Lady Rebels used a strong second half effort to overcome rival Buffalo Island Central 58-37 in the championship game of the 2A- North Regional Saturday at Riverside High School.

Riverside trailed BIC by three at the half, but the Lady Rebels outscored the Lady Mustangs 39-15 in the second half to win the 2A-North championship.

The Lady Rebels second half effort seemed to be a near 180 degree turn from the first half when the Lady Mustangs controlled the temp and pace of the game. “We got in some serious foul trouble in the first half, and weren’t knocking down our shots. They shot 13 free throws in the first half and we shot two. We weren’t boxing out, they did a good job,” said Lady Rebels head coach Tyler Timms.

BIC started out strong as the lead swung both directions over the first eight minutes. Riley Parker gave BIC a 2-0 lead hitting a pair of free throws. Ryley Eakins then tied the game at 2-2 with a bucket. Chandler Gathright then put BIC back in front with a pair of free throws, after a foul by Riverside post player Amber Courtney, which sent her to the bench with her second foul. A long three ball by Eakins then gave the Lady Rebels their first lead at 5-4. Five straight Lady Mustang points, all by Parker made it 9-5 BIC. Riverside responded with five points in succession with a basket and a triple twine by Carly Jo Womack made it 10-9 Lady Rebels. But BIC would get a basket from Gaithright and a Hallee Wells free throw to take a 12-10 lead after one quarter.

A Brooklyn Berry three gave Riverside the lead 13-12 early in the second period. BIC responded with a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the game. A basket by Kendra Towell inside, a jumper by Gaithright and a Wells triple twine made it 19-13 BIC with 4:38 to play in the half. But Riverside would answer with a 6-3 run to close the quarter to make it 22-19 at the break. BIC, which outscored Riverside 9-1 from the charity stripe in the first half, missed three of six attempts in the second period. Riverside closed to within 20-19 on an Ali Towles three ball and a three-point play by Gracie Washington. Two Parker free throws made it 22-19 BIC at the break.

Riverside switched defenses in the second half applying some pressure and going to a 2-3 zone. The result was a 10-4 Lady Rebels run to take a 29-26 lead. BICs Arabella Oliver would bury a long three to tie the game at 29, but would have to exit after picking up her fourth foul. Riverside would go on an 8-0 run to close the quarter. An and 1 bucket by Carly Jo Womack made it 32-29, followed by a pair of Womack free throws and a long three by Womack made it 37-29 after three quarters.

The Riverside lead would continue to grow in the final quarter as the Lady Rebel press and zone defense kept BIC off balance. A 7-0 spurt by Riverside stretched the lead to 44-29 before Towell’s bucket down low stopped the run and made it 44-31. A Towles three-ball and a Courtney’s first basket of the game made it 49-31. The Lady Rebels lead would eventually grow to the final 21 point margin as Towles hit another three-ball and Riverside hit 7 of 10 from the charity stripe in the final period. Riverside outscored BIC 10-2 in the second half from the free throw line.

Parker led BIC with 15 points. Wells added seven points, while Gaithright and Towell both scored six points. Oliver added three points for the Lady Mustangs.

“We dictated the pace pretty well early and played hard, pushing them off the three-point line, but we didn’t seem to be able do that so well in the second half,” said BIC head coach Trevor Matheny. “It is time to get back to the drawing board and get ready for next week.”

BIC (17-17) the second seed from the 2A-North will begin state tournament play Thursday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. against Marshall (21-12). The Lady Bobcats are the third seed from 2A-Central.

Riverside was led in scoring by Carly Jo Womack’s 19 points. Towles added 14 points, while Eakins scored seven points. Washington, Courtney and Berry all scored six points for the Lady Rebels.

“We changed our defense at the half. Went zone, press and then back zone,” said Timms. “Our 2-3 zone and our press seemed to have them on their heels. We were really aggressive in the second half and we also knocked down some shots . That turned the tide our way.”

Riverside (29-6) the one-seed from the 2A-North opened play in the state tournament Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. when they face Quitman (24-9) the four seed from the 2A-Central. The 2A State Tournament is being competed at Mansfield High School.