By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

HAMMOND — District rivals Riverside and John Curtis sat atop the Class 2A poll all season as its first and second ranked teams, in some order.

“They got it right,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Errol Gauff. “They should be playing next week. And they will be.”

Gauff could attest. His Falcons had just been eliminated in Friday night’s state semifinal by Riverside, 63-43, and the result spurred the Rebels on and into the 2A championship game against the aforementioned Patriots.

“Credit our kids for doing what it takes,” said Riverside coach Timmy Byrd. “We knew that St. Thomas was a team that, if we didn’t do the things that allow us to have success … they could get us. Tonight, we out rebounded them and I thought, especially, our shot-selection was very good.”

Riverside (36-9) and Curtis (26-3) will square off in Ruston on Saturday to decide the state championship. Tipoff is scheduled for noon.

“It’s exciting to have this rematch with Curtis,” said forward Ricardo Gathers. “We go up north, so people up there can see the rivalry. I know my teammates can’t wait to play them. I can’t wait to play them.”

Curtis advanced by defeating Mansfield it its own semifinal matchup, 71-37.  

Donald Thomas Jr. led the way for Riverside Friday, scoring 13 points and hitting a pair of 3-pointers. Ricardo Gathers had 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Zelvin Smith and Khalea Turner each scored nine points, Turner going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.

Steven Wronkoski led St. Thomas Aquinas (30-6) with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Rebels set the tone at the beginning of each half. Riverside outscored STA 11-1 to begin the first quarter and 10-0 to begin the third. That first quarter run was made more impressive by a defensive effort that held the Falcons to a single point in the first 6:09 of play.

It was Thomas, though, who first pushed the Rebels toward a substantial advantage. Riverside led 14-8 after the first quarter, but Thomas pushed the lead to 12 after canning 3-pointers from the corner and the top of the circle.

“They couldn’t handle us pushing the ball up and down the court like we were,” said Thomas. “We didn’t relax on defense.”

Wronkoski answered with a turnaround jumper, but Gathers scored on a short hook shot to make it 22-10. Von Julien hit a pair of free throws to make it 24-12, then Turner scored and Gathers hit two free throws to make it 28-14. Smith scored on the inside to end the quarter and make it 30-16 at halftime.

Turner set the tone in the second half and helped the Rebels all but put things away. He hit a pair of jumpers, then Gathers nailed a 3-pointer to make it 37-16. John Lewis hit another 3 to cap a 10-0 run and put the Rebels ahead by 24.

Riverside led by as many as 26 in the game and never let its lead dwindle below 18.

Wronkowski said the Rebels height was a significant issue.

“6’8, 6’9, you don’t see that every day,” he said, referring to Gathers and Turner. “Our district is very little. To see two of them down there, it’s like a punch in the face.”

For the Rebels, the next stop is Ruston. And for a number of players, the next stop is the last stop in a Riverside uniform — the Rebels roster six active seniors.

“I don’t care how we win, I just want the win,” said senior point guard Lucas Martin-Julien. “I’m very excited about going back to the show.”ꆱ