By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

The Riverside girls basketball team won its first game of the Battle on the Bayou tournament at the Alario Center earlier this week to move to 3-0 on the young season, but fell twice to collect their first two losses of the season.

The Rebels defeated Thomas Jefferson, 55-15, before falling to Central Lafourche 48-40 – both games were in pool play at the Alario Center. In the first game of bracket play, RA lost a heartbreaker to Ellender, 45-43.

Daysha Blount scored 19 to lead the Rebels (3-2) against Ellender. Kristy Milioto added 12.

Riverside coach Chuck Dorvin said the last game left a bad taste in his mouth.

“I was extremely disappointed in the Ellender game. I think we gave it to them,” he said. Too many poor shots, too many turnovers.

“Noone’s been on the hot seat like that and our inexperience showed.

“We’ve gotta stay away from playing panic basketball. I’ve made a living for 20 years making other teams do it, and you can’t win when it happens to you.”

Riverside led the Patriots 15-7 after a quarter, but saw its lead dwindle to two at halftime, 23-21.

The Rebels extended the lead to four after three quarters, but Ellender outscored RA 17-11 in the final period to get the duke.

“Our team has to learn how to finish,” said Dorvin. “You hate to say it was a total collapse, but really that’s what it was.”

Against Central Lafourche, Riverside rallied from an 11-5 first quarter deficit to draw within two at the half, 22-20.

But the Trojans outscored Riverside 19-13 in the third quarter to make it an eight point game, and were able to hold on from there.

Blount scored 14. Milioto added 11.

“I thought Central Lafourche outmanned us. Ellender did not,” said Dorvin.

“That’s why the last game sticks with me more. I felt like we should have won that one.”

Blount led the Rebels again with 14 against Thomas Jefferson in a game RA dominated, outscoring TJHS 20-0 in the first quarter.

Riverside returns to action today against Doyle at Albany High. Tip off is for 10 a.m.