Basketball: Riverside rebounds to defeat U-High, STA wins at Springfield

It is safe to say that Riverside Academy is not accustomed to losing and does not like the lingering feeling.

After losing two of three games to outstanding teams in unbeaten Rayville and red hot Country Day, the Rebels rebounded in a huge way, drilling a good University High squad 64-40 at Reserve Monday night in a non-district contest in a battle of highly ranked teams. Riverside sits atop the Division III power rankings while U-High is second in the Division II power rankings.

Riverside started slowly, shooting poorly and trailing 15-10 after one quarter but the Rebels found the mark, exploding in the second quarter to take a 28-23 lead at halftime. Riverside broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Cubs 23-9 to take a 51-32 lead going to the fourth quarter.

Alabama signee Jared Butler, per usual, led the way with 26 points, eight rebounds, six assists and six steals in an outstanding all-around effort for the Rebels (26-2). Garland Robertson had nine points while Jalen Banks, who missed the Country Day game while on an official football visit to the United States Military Academy at West Point, added seven points, along with Gage Larvadain.

Kyle Ross topped the Cubs (17-10) with 10 points while Bryton Constantin added nine. It was the second win for the Rebels over the Cubs. Riverside edged U-High 74-70 at the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic on Jan. 4 in Westwego.

Both teams return to action tonight as Riverside hosts Karr at 6:30 p.m. The Rebels edged the Cougars 61-55 in overtime for the Sugar Bowl tournament championship on Jan. 6. University High returns to District 10-3A action, hosting Glen Oaks at 6 p.m.

At Springfield, St. Thomas Aquinas led from start to finish in a 54-35 victory over the Bulldogs in a District 10-2A contest. It was the fourth straight win for the Falcons, who remain on top in district play.

Junior Justin Thomas scored 18 points, going 6-of-8 from the field, while freshman JeMichael Williams added 17 points to pace the Falcons. Junior Jacob Romero and senior Kade Bleakley each scored seven for STA (16-8, 6-1).

The win completed a series sweep of Springfield for the Falcons, who defeated the Bulldogs 55-32 at home on Jan. 19. St. Thomas Aquinas returns to district play Thursday night, hosting French Settlement at 7:15 p.m. on Senior night. Springfield (10-17, 3-3) also returns to district play Thursday night, hosting Doyle at 6 p.m.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Mon., Feb. 5

Boys

New Orleans Area

Archbishop Hannan 40, Albany 28

Doyle 43, Mount Hermon 31

Warren Easton 51, McDonogh 35 37

McMain 53, Grace King 50

Riverside 63, University 40

Sci Academy 58, Belle Chasse 49

South Plaquemines 77, International High 60

St. Helena 70, French Settlement 58

St. Thomas Aquinas 54, Springfield 35

Varnado 75, Clark 33

Sophie B. Wright 99, Thomas Jefferson 60

Baton Rouge Area

Dunham 82, Jehovah-Jireh 69

St. Amant 52, Broadmoor 43

Bayou Area

West St. Mary 63, Jeanerette 43

Girls

New Orleans Area

Albany 68, Archbishop Hannan 32

John Curtis Christian 57, Archbishop Chapelle 25

East Jefferson 45, Grace King 15

East St. John 57, Terrebonne 36

Franklinton 64, Carver 39

French Settlement 59, St. Helena 21

Higgins 57, John Ehret 45

Karr 27, Academy of Our Lady 25

Landry-Walker 39, West Jefferson 24

McDonogh 35 58, Riverdale 44

Mount Carmel 30, Dominican 27

St. Thomas Aquinas 55, Springfield 37

Walker 59, Riverside 36

Baton Rouge Area

Family Christian 45, Runnels 13

Plaquemine 46, West Feliciana 20

St. Amant 58, Broadmoor 20

Bayou Area

Jeanerette 41, West St. Mary 31

Area Prep Basketball Schedule for Tue., Feb. 6

Boys

New Orleans Area

Ascension Catholic at St. James, 6:30 p.m.
Belle Chasse at Thomas Jefferson, 6:30 p.m.
Bonnabel at Landry-Walker, 7 p.m.
Brother Martin at John Curtis Christian, 7 p.m.
Central Catholic at Country Day, 6:30 p.m.
Clark at St. Martin’s Episcopal, 7 p.m.
Covington at Fontainebleau, 7:15 p.m.
Helen Cox at Sophie B. Wright, 6 p.m.
Donaldsonville at St. Charles Catholic, 7 p.m.
John Ehret at East Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Fisher at Newman, 6 p.m.
Ben Franklin at Lake Area New Tech, 7 p.m.
Franklinton at Lakeshore, 7 p.m.
Grand Isle at Lutheran, 5:30 p.m.
Hammond at Northshore, 7 p.m
Higgins at Chalmette, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Jesuit, 7 p.m.
Houma Christian at Ridgewood, 6 p.m.
Karr at Riverside, 7:15 p.m.
Kenner Discovery at Patrick Taylor, 6 p.m.
Grace King at West Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Lusher at De La Salle, 6 p.m.
Mandeville at Slidell, 7 p.m.
McDonogh 35 at Riverdale, 6 p.m.
NOMMA at Carver, 5 p.m.
Pearl River at Salmen, 6 p.m.
Ponchatoula at St. Paul’s, 7 p.m.
St. Augustine at Archbishop Rummel, 7 p.m.
Jewel Sumner at Loranger, 6 p.m.
Thibodaux at Hahnville, 7 p.m.
West St. John at Ecole Classique, 6 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Breaux Bridge at Livonia, 7 p.m.
Capitol at Dunham, 7 p.m.
Denham Springs at Zachary, 7 p.m.
Dutchtown at Catholic, 7 p.m.
East Ascension at McKinley, 7 p.m.
East Feliciana at The Church Academy, 7 p.m.
Episcopal of Acadiana at Port Allen, 7 p.m.
Glen Oaks at University, 7 p.m
Jehovah-Jireh at Dunham, 7 p.m.
Kentwood at White Castle, 7 p.m.
Lee at Tara, 7 p.m.
Madison Prep at Baker, 7 p.m.
Mentorship Academy at West Feliciana, 7 p.m.
Scotlandville at Live Oak, 7 p.m.
St. John at Southern Lab, 7 p.m.
St. Michael at Lutcher, 7 p.m.
Walker at Belaire, 7 p.m.
Woodlawn at Plaquemine, 7 p.m.

Bayou Area

Centerville at Lafayette Christian, 6 p.m.

Destrehan at Central Lafourche, 7 p.m.

Ellender at Assumption, 7 p.m.

Kaplan at Berwick, 5:15 p.m.

South Lafourche at Morgan City, 7:30 p.m.

South Terrebonne at E.D. White Catholic, 7:45 p.m.

Varnado at Covenant Christian, 6 p.m.

Girls

New Orleans Area

Academy of The Sacred Heart (NO) at Ursuline, 5 p.m.
Albany at Archbishop Hannan, 6 p.m.
Bonnabel at Chalmette, 5 p.m.
Clark at St. Martin’s Episcopal, 6 p.m.
Cohen at KIPP Renaissance, 6 p.m.
Country Day at St. Mary’s Academy, 5 p.m.
Covington at Fontainebleau, 6 p.m.
De La Salle at St. Charles Catholic, 5 p.m.
Donaldsonville at Haynes, 5:30 p.m.
Fisher at Newman, 4:30 p.m.
Ben Franklin at McDonogh 35, 4 p.m.
Grand Isle at Lutheran, 5 p.m.
Hammond at Northshore, 6 p.m.
International at Sophie B. Wright, 5 p.m.
M.L. King Charter at Riverside, 5 p.m.
Lake Area New Tech at Carver, 5:30 p.m.
Lakeshore at Pearl River, 6 p.m.
Louisiana School for the Deaf at First Baptist Christian, 5 p.m.
Lutcher at Higgins, 5 p.m.
Mandeville at Slidell, 6 p.m.
NOMMA at Grace King, 5 p.m.
Riverdale at Cabrini, 5:30 p.m.
Salmen at St. Scholastica, 6 p.m.
St. James at Lusher, 5 p.m.
St. Mary’s Academy at Country Day, 4 p.m.
Jewel Sumner at Loranger, 6 p.m.
Terrebonne at East St. John, 5 p.m.
Thibodaux at Hahnville, 5 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Belaire at Walker, 6 p.m.
Breaux Bridge at Livonia, 6 p.m.
Capitol at Dunham, 6 p.m.
Central Catholic at Brusly, 6 p.m.
East Feliciana at The Church Academy, 6 p.m.
Glen Oaks at University, 6 p.m.
Kentwood at White Castle, 6 p.m.
Lee at Tara, 6 p.m.
Live Oak at Scotlandville, 6 p.m.
Madison Prep at Baker, 6 p.m.
McKinley at East Ascension, 6 p.m.
Mentorship Academy at West Feliciana, 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau at False River
St. John at Southern Lab, 6 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Academy at Dutchtown, 6 p.m.
St. Michael at Lutcher, 6 p.m.
Woodlawn (BR) at Plaquemine, 6 p.m.
Zachary at Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

Bayou Area

Destrehan at Central Lafourche, 5 p.m.

Ellender at Assumption, 6 p.m.

South Lafourche at Morgan City, 6 p.m.

South Terrebonne at E.D. White Catholic, 6 p.m.

Varnado at Covenant Christian, 5 p.m.

West St. Mary at Jeanerette, 6 p.m.