By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — After Riverside and Capitol competed the first half of their Class 2A bi-district playoff game at a blinding pace — Riverside led 44-36 — Rebels coach Kristy Hebert delivered a stern message to her team: she wanted her defense back to form, and immediately.

That message was heard loud and clear — and the Rebel offense didn’t slow down either.

Riverside cut Capitol’s scoring production in half after the break, holding the Lions to 18-second half points en route to a comfortable 90-54 victory.

Rebels guard Toni Hebert scored a career high 30 points and center Kendra Turner put together a monstrous line for a triple-double with 26 points, 21 rebounds and 10 blocks.

Kelsey Joseph had 22 points and eight assists for the Rebels, while Channan Simmons added seven points and eight assists.

“At halftime, I just reamed them,” said Kristy Hebert. “The way we were playing defensively … we just had to step it up. We knew going in that 25 (Darreshia McCallister) and 4 (Jaala Boyd) could hurt us. We fronted (McCallister) and took her away in the second half. She’s a great player, and it made a difference.

“I’m just really happy for these girls. They wanted this one and went out and got it.”

Riverside (22-9) turned the ball over 11 times in the first half but took care of the ball well in the second, committing just four giveaways.

Darreshia McCallister scored 23 points to lead Capitol (12-16). Jaala Boyd added 21.

The win was just the second playoff victory in the history of the RA girls basketball program.

“We saw it as win or go home tonight. So if you want this, you have to play like it,” said Riverside point guard Channan Simmons. “We just pushed harder. We were a little timid in the first half. But we went to the locker room, settled ourselves and said, ‘Let’s just go out there and play.’”

Riverside is now scheduled to travel to North Caddo in the regional round of the playoffs. That game is set for

Thursday night at 6 p.m.

The game largely showcased why the current Riverside team has set program records in wins and rank this season; the Rebels flashed a complete offensive package, riding Turner’s interior dominance in the first half before turning the show over to their guards in the second.

Turner came out the gates roaring, scoring 10 points in the opening frame; her first two buckets came off of passes from Simmons, and two more came on putbacks. Riverside led 19-17 after a quarter.

The Rebels extended that to 33-26 in the second before Capitol made a move; a 10-2 Capitol run highlighted by consecutive buckets from Boyd gave the Lions a 36-35 lead with 1:54 left in the first half. Riverside took the momentum back headed into the break, finishing the second quarter on a 9-0 run — Hebert scored two baskets and Simmons two more, including a 3-pointer.

Riverside didn’t score until a Joseph drive at the 4:25 mark of the third quarter, but from there, the Rebels rolled.

With 3:25 left, Hebert canned a 3-pointer and drew a foul, converting a rare four-point play at the line to put RA ahead 50-39.

“That was an awesome feeling. I think that was my first and-one 3-pointer this year,” said Toni Hebert. “After I hit my first two shots, I gained confidence. They were leaving our guards open and we took advantage.”

Capitol never recovered. Turner scored on a heady inbounds pass from Joseph to make it 52-40. Then tempers flared when the Lions’ Trenisha Henderson fouled Turner underneath the basket; Henderson was whistled for a flagrant foul and ejected.

With Capitol sending a lot of defensive attention Turner’s way underneath, the Rebel guards took advantage.

“I knew they’d come after me with the way I started off. I trust my teammates though,” said Turner. “They made a bunch of big shots and they told me to just keep going hard for rebounds and on defense.”

Tia Mack and Boyd converted consecutive buckets to pull Capitol within nine, but that was as close as they’d get. Hebert followed and put back her own miss, then canned a 3-pointer. Simmons bounced a pass to Turner, who converted inside.

Then Simmons and Joseph connected with 20.3 seconds left in the third, Joseph making a layup and one to bring the RA fans to their feet. Riverside finished the quarter on a 12-1 run and led 65-45 after three.

Hebert scored the first six points of the fourth quarter —she exploded for 16 points over a four and a half minute stretch — and the Rebels never looked back.

“Our guards weren’t looking to score enough in the first half. They did an excellent job stepping up in the second half.

“I told them they were going to get open looks, so be ready,” said Kristy Hebert.