By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE — Riverside guard Ja’Keyra Gautreaux dominated the action Thursday night, scoring a game–high 26 points to lead the Rebels past host Sacred Heart, 48-21, in the Rebels’ season opener.

Damecia Nora added 10 points for Riverside. Kennedy White scored six.

Riverside allowed no more than eight points in any quarter, and just eight total in the second half.

The Rebels led 23-13 at halftime.

Riverside coach Kathy Luke, entering her second season as Rebels head coach, said it’s too early to really tell what kind of team the Rebels will be this season — Riverside starts a sophomore, three freshmen and an 8th grader — but she did say there will be more to come from Gautreaux.

“People will have a tough matchup with her at guard,” Luke said. “She’s got a size advantage on most opposing guards and she can handle the ball and create space against forwards.”

She said she was pleased with the team’s initial effort against Sacred Heart.

“For being as young as we are, we handled ourselves very well,” Luke said.

“We have a lot to improve on, but I liked our energy and our hustle.

“We played with a lot of determination. I think this team has a bright future.”

Last season, the Rebels reached the second round in Luke’s first year as coach, beating Sterlington in a playoff game before falling at third-seeded Doyle by three. RA finished with a 19-13 record last season.

The Rebels will travel to compete in the St. Scholastica tournament Monday, where it will face Academy of Our Lady at 5:30 p.m.