By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Playing without the services of center Kendra Turner and tasked with overcoming a recent flu bug that afflicted multiple players, Riverside had its work cut out in last week’s Assumption tournament.

The Lady Rebels pushed through their issues to earn a split in two games, first edging Thibodaux, 47-45, then falling to E.D. White, 64-45.

Toni Hebert drew a foul with two seconds left against Thibodaux and sank two free throws, breaking a 45-45 tie and adding the game-winning points to the scoreboard.

Hebert finished with eight points. Channan Simmons led all scorers with 16. Jaimaya Bolden scored eight.

“I thought it was a big win for the girls,” said Riverside coach Kristy Hebert. “Playing without Kendra was going to be an adjustment. We hadn’t been able to really practice for days because we had a lot of girls out with the flu. I knew it could be a difficult tournament for us.”

Elise Plaisance scored 12 to lead Thibodaux (9-7). Kevonshae Walter scored 10.

The game was close throughout. Neither team held more than a 6-point advantage at the end of any quarter. Riverside (13-3) led 19-17 at halftime.

Hebert said that her players understood that without the 6-foot-2-inch Turner — who was out of town and unavailable for either game — to provide an inside game and constant offensive rebounding threat, the Rebels would have to adjust and find different ways to generate points.

“We stressed before the tournament that without Kendra, we needed our guards to play more aggressive defense and hopefully generate more transition opportunities,” said Kristy Hebert. “And we needed to attack the basket more. We couldn’t afford to just rely on the outside shot.”

*****

The matchup with E.D. White was a rematch of the Cabrini Classic championship game earlier this month.

That game went the Rebels’ way in overtime. But this time E.D. White (13-3) asserted themselves early and put the Rebels in an early hole they couldn’t climb out of.

Jordan Gros led E.D. White with 18 points. Genna Larose added 14.

Kelsey Joseph scored 15 to pace the Rebels. Hebert and Simmons each chipped in 11.

“(E.D. White) just got off to a very strong start,” said Kristy Hebert. “We put ourselves in a hole and for the rest of the game, we had to fight back from a deficit.

“We didn’t play well. We didn’t shoot well at all … But I’m still proud of them. They kept fighting. They stuck it out.”

*****

Riverside will return to action Thursday when it faces Hahnville to open play for both teams at the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic tournament at the Alario Center.

RA and HHS will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday as part of the girls bracket — it is the first time in the tournament’s three year history that both boys and girls will participate.

Along with the two River Parishes schools, Salmen and Albany will face off in the first round, as will John Curtis and Cabrini and Mount Carmel and Warren Easton.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” said Kristy Hebert. “I’ve been pushing for them to start up a girls bracket … There used to be a lot of these tournaments over the holidays and those just haven’t been there recently.

“But we’re excited to take part in it, for us to take part in a national tournament recognized by the Sugar Bowl. It looks like it could grow, too. There have been a lot of calls from coaches, teams out of state, who want to take part next year. So we could see it grow from eight teams.”

With Riverside off to the best start in the history of the girls program, it’s a chance for the Rebels to showcase their skills to a large audience.

“I think the girls are looking forward to that. I know, personally as a coach, I’m looking at this as a chance to see how we stack up with a number of teams we haven’t been able to schedule games with before. Aside from Curtis and Cabrini, these are teams we haven’t seen.”

The Riverside boys will make their third appearance at the tournament, taking part in a 10-team field that also includes John Curtis, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Northside, Higgins, O. Perry Walker, Douglass High of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Sheldon High of Sacramento, California.

Defending Class 2A champion Curtis and Riverside, the team it faced to earn its crown in last season’s 2A title game, each have first round byes. The Rebels will face the winner of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, Riverside tipping off against the victor at 7 p.m. Thursday evening.

The tournament will run from Thursday through Saturday’s championship game.