By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Tuesday’s Class 2A quarterfinal game between host Riverside and John Curtis had all the pomp and circumstance anyone could ever ask for: a rivalry showdown between district foes that own the past three Class 2A titles between them, and a trip to the Top 28 boys basketball tournament on the line.

The lights were at their brightest. Then the Rebels shot them out.

Riverside scorched the nets for 50 first half points, making 10 of 13 3-pointers along the way en route to an 85-76 victory that eliminated the defending state champion Patriots from the postseason.

The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.

“I felt our guys were scary in the first half,” said Riverside coach Timmy Byrd. “That’s the best I’ve seen them shoot all year.

“We kept reinforcing in them that their best way yet to come, and that tonight was gonna be the night that they all started hitting shots together. I’ve been waiting for this all year.”

Riverside’s Malik Crowfield scored 28 points and canned six 3-pointers, including all five of his first half attempts. Von Julien scored 20. Jordan Andrews and Herb McGee each scored 14 and Cory Costanza added eight.

The Rebels exploded from the opening tap, outscoring Curtis 50-28 in the first half. Riverside led by at least 17 throughout the second half before the Patriots outscored the Rebels 19-10 in the final two minutes.

Malichi Dupre and Issac Banks each scored 22 to lead Curtis. Richard Durant added 17.

With the win, Riverside advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals where it’s set to face University Lab at 4:30 p.m. today. It is the fourth consecutive season Riverside has advanced to the Top 28 tournament.

Riverside hit 12 3-pointers in all Tuesday, their torrid outside shooting pace slowed in the second half after RA committed to burning clock with their big lead.

RA (25-5) and Curtis (24-6) had played three times already this season prior to the quarterfinal matchup. Those games were decided by a total of eight points. Riverside has now won three of four this season against Curtis after splitting four games with the Patriots last season, including the Class 2A state final.

It was the latest strong performance from Crowfield, who has saved his best play for the postseason. The freshman guard is averaging 25.3 points per game so far this postseason.

“We had to come out well. The crowd was crazy tonight,” said Crowfield. “Everyone was coming out to see us so we had to deliver … This was the best I’ve played, for sure.”

Byrd said that unlike the first three matchups with Curtis, Crowfield played up top as opposed to on the wing, switching places with fellow guard Herb McGee.

“That helped get me going,” said Crowfield.

Said Byrd, “We did that to get him going early. We know he’s that kind of player, but he’d been kind of drifting off to the wing. But tonight he showed why he’s the best shooting guard in Louisiana.”

Jordan Andrews got the Rebels started by sinking a 3 off an assist from Julien, and things snowballed from there offensively. Crowfield canned a 3 from the top of the circle to make it 6-0. Banks answered with a score inside, but Crowfield got the ball on the block and hit a stepback jumper with 4:45 left in the first. 30 seconds later, he sunk a 3 from the wing, then Andrews hit another 3 off a dish from Costanza.

Shortly after that, Costanza drilled one of his own and Riverside led 17-4 with 3:01 left in the quarter, already with five made 3’s. The Rebels led 26-14 after the first quarter, finishing it with a Timmy Perrilloux layup assisted by Julien.

“I knew I had to get everyone started,” said Julien, the team’s sophomore point guard. “Once they got started, I could get started.”

The second quarter started the same way, this time with Perrilloux scoring off a dish from Curtis Thomas. Julien found Crowfield for RA’s seventh 3-pointer with 5:40 left before halftime. Costanza nailed number eight in transition after an Andrews steal. Julien made an impressive no-look pass to Crowfield leading to RA’s ninth 3; the two combined again when Crowfield sunk the 10th to make it 48-29. He’d cap the half with a driving layup; he scored 23 first half points.

“We’d gotten open shots against Curtis in the previous games. But this was the first time we had three or four kids going at the same time,” said Byrd.

Curtis refused to roll over. Dupre began the second half with a layup, then Raekwon James socked a 3 from the wing to make it 52-34 before Banks sank two free throws.

But with a lead Riverside was able to spread the floor and make extend Curtis’ defense. Crowfield, McGee and Andrews each drove for early layups against a Patriots team unable to help down off shooters, usually burning off a chunk of clock before doing so.

The game was played in front of a record home crowd at Riverside.

“The atmosphere here isn’t like anywhere else in the South,” said Byrd. “I think this is he hottest, most intense basketball rivalry in the state right now.”