Rebels advance to Regional tournament

Riverside advanced to the 2A Regional Tournament with a 55-47 victory over Marmaduke Wednesday night at Caraway.

Logan Meurer pumped in a game high 20 points while Josh Anderson and Cole Winford scored 14 and 10 points respectively to lead the Rebels. Alteeno Sain scored six while Tyler Rolland pitched in five points.

Marmaduke took a 15-13 lead after the opening period, but watched the Rebels rally to grab a 24-20 halftime advantage. Riverside increased its lead to 36-24 entering the final frame and led by as many as 19 points, 49-30, with 3:45 left in the game. The Greyhounds would not go away, and pulled to within 53-44 with 1:11 left on a Morgan Hawley trey, Marmaduke's fourth three pointer of the quarter. Time ran out on the Greyhounds' season, as the Rebels celebrated their regional tournament berth.

"It was a great effort," said Riverside Coach Buster Campbell. "They (Marmaduke) stayed on 30 points for a long time, and I credit that to our defense. We are really playing our best basketball right now. We are rebounding well and playing very good defense. Logan Meurer had a good night shooting tonight, and that helps. Tyler Rolland had 10 rebounds, and he's a guard.

He and Josh Anderson are very athletic. We had three goals this year, getting to 20 wins and this was our 21st, making it to regionals and going to state. We are one regional tournament win away from attaining our third goal."

Marmduke placed three players in double digits, led by All-Conference player Morgan Hawley, who scored 16 points. Kasey Reagans tallied 11 points while Zac McDowell also contributed 11, all in the fourth quarter.

The Rebels began the tournament with a convincing 78-56 victory over Marked Tree. Josh Anderson led the way with a double-double, scoring 23 points while grabbing 22 rebounds. Cole Winford poured in 22 points while Tyler Rolland hit double digits with 14 points. Logan Meurer tallied nine, Alteeno Sain and M. J. Brewer pitched in four points apiece while Morgan Fletcher added two points. The Rebels hit eight of 18 free throws and made two three pointers.

Allen Buchanan led Marked Tree with 14 points while Darius Ivy added 13. The Indians connected on 21-33 foul shots and made one trey.

Riverside held a 25-15 advantage after the first period and took a 41-26 lead into the dressing room at the half. The Rebels stretched their lead to 61-41 entering the final quarter.

Eventual tournament champion EPC ended Riverside's tournament run with a dominating 72-26 victory in the semifinals Thursday night. The Warriors pounced on Riverside early and grabbed a 29-4 lead after the first quarter. EPC held a 43-14 advantage at the half and led 60-25 after three periods of play.

Rashad Madden led EPC with 18 points while A.J. Turner and Jammar Sturdivant added 13 and 12 points respectively.

The Rebels placed two players on the All-Conference team, Jake Love and Cole Winford.