BY GEORGE MAHL

RESERVE – After two evenly matched quarters, the Riverside Academy Rebels struggled in the second half and lost a 62-47 contest to Crescent City Baptist High School in Reserve.

Leading the way for the Rebels was Josh Labiche with 16 points. Ryan Griffin also contributed with 13 points in the loss. Both teams shot the ball well in the first quarter. Riverside and CCBHS exchanged baskets on several occasions in the first quarter. The Pioneers made four three-point shots in the first period. Three consecutive three’s courtesy of Jonathan Hastings, and Oscar Reed, who had two in the quarter, gave the Pioneers an early 17-11 lead with about one minute left in the first quarter. A three-point play by Griffin cut the Riverside deficit to 17-16 with :02 left in the first period.

As a result of an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, Crescent City, a 1A school, jumped out to a 24-16 lead. However, RA went on a spurt as well by scoring six unanswered points to trim the lead to 24-22 with 5:02 left in the half. With the score tied at 26, Reed hit a jump shot making the score 28-26 Pioneers heading into the locker room. Reed had 17 points at halftime for the visiting team.

The third period saw both squads trade baskets for several minutes until there was 2:27 left in the third quarter.

That is when the Pioneers went on a 10-0 sprint to take a commanding 49-35 lead with less than a minute to go in the third. Two free throws from Kevin Ivey gave CC a 14 point advantage. It was more of the same for the Rebels during the final period.

A 54-42 Pioneers lead rapidly became a 61-45 lead with 3:00 left in the game. Leading scorers for Crescent City included Reed, who had 20 points, and Ivey, who added 13 in the victory.

RA will return to the court Tuesday when they host Grand Isle High School starting at 5 p.m.