Riverside and John Curtis hold the past three Class 2A state championships, have split the District 10-2A championship in each of the last two seasons, and have played a whopping seven times over the past two seasons — the Rebels lead the series four wins to three and won the last one, though Curtis holds the most valuable victory in last season’s Class 2A championship game.
How’s that for a heated rivalry?
I’ve seen all three Rebels/Patriots games this season. All came down to a final shot, the losing team missing a 3 in each that would have won the game or sent it to overtime. Each was contested with championship ferocity.
I bring it up because when one sees the Class 2A playoff bracket, he can’t help but notice the glaring potential 3-6 matchup in the state quarterfinals. Both teams will have to take care of business — potential second round foes Rosepine and Mansfield are hot teams with strong resumes — but the potential for a fourth game between the rivals should have prep hoops fanatics salivating.
Curtis coach Mike Krajcer said after one contest, “High school basketball needs more rivalries like this.”
It’s always a good thing. And while some may think it’s a shame that a championship-level showdown might be contested before, and not at, the Top 28: personally, I like the idea of it being at Riverside or Curtis. There’s nothing quite like a small, LOUD gymnasium packed to capacity, and that goes double when a trip to the Top 28 is on the line.
•Such is the dominance of the West St. John girls basketball team when “only” winning by seven or nine over a district rival raises eyebrows.
I guess the Lady Rams have spoiled us, as this was the case after home wins over East Iberville and White Castle, as well as a road tilt at Ascension Christian. On Monday, the Rams won by 68 … so I guess we can write off any ideas that the top-ranked team in 1A has gotten complacent.
If you haven’t seen Jaylyn Gordon play, and you’re a prep hoops fan, you should make it a point to check out a WSJ game before the senior guard graduates.
She’s the complete package. She’ll outshoot just about anyone from distance, gets to the basket at will. When I watched West St. John defeat White Castle two weeks ago — those teams rematch, by the way, tomorrow night in a regional playoff game — Gordon was taking her smaller defender in the post to help key a fourth quarter surge. She’s been a treat to cover — and the rest of the Rams are pretty darn good too. That 28-1 record is no fluke.
•Riverside’s girls soccer season came to an end in the opening round of the postseason against Country Day earlier this month. Though disappointing to a Lady Rebels team that hoped to build on its first-ever playoff win a year ago, the job the Lady Rebels and first-year RA coach Brittany St. Pierre did in defending their district crown still deserves recognition. This was a program that had trouble mustering any district wins at all when I began covering sports in our region in 2007, and the program has come light years from that time.
I caught up with former Rebels coach and current Country Day boys soccer coach Stephen Millet after his Cajuns’ first round playoff win over St. Charles.
Millet oversaw Riverside’s rebuilding project from 2008 through the 2011-12 season.
He said he couldn’t be more proud of what his former players have continued to do.
“I was absolutely thrilled to see them win district again. It was the first undefeated district title in their history,” he said.
Millet attended the Country Day at Riverside playoff game.
“I thought they played extremely hard,” said Millet. “Obviously, I have a special bond with that group. It was kind of heartbreaking to not be down there with them and be a part of it, but life brings difficult decisions sometimes.
“They’ve come a long way from when I started with them. From little girls to young adults. They’ve shared something special and it’s extremely rewarding to see them achieve everything they have.”