By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

DONALDSONVILLE – Riverside’s first season under coach Chuck Dorvin came to an end Thursday in the bi-district round of the Class 2A state playoffs as Donaldsonville rode a second half wave of momentum to a 75-45 win at home.

The No. 11 seeded Tigers (20-8) advance to the regional round where they will face No. 6 Oakdale.

Riverside finishes its season 19-14. It ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak.

Donaldsonville guard Kendra Coleman led all scorers with 31 points.

“She shot it very well,” said Riverside coach Chuck Dorvin. “She was probably the best player I’ve seen all year.”

The Rebels kept things close in the first half. Donaldsonville led 15-10 in the first half and 31-26 at halftime after an even second quarter.

But the Tigers came out of the locker room for the second half on a mission, increasing the intensity and outscoring the Rebels 21-4 in the period to open a 22-point lead.

“We played really well in the first half. They may have took us a little lightly,” said Dorvin. “But credit Donaldsonville for coming out and picking it up in the second half. Their defensive pressure got better and they upped the pace.”

Daysha Blount led Riverside with 11 points. Megan Malik scored nine and Kristy Milioto scored eight.

The loss came on the heels of what may have been the Rebels’ signature win of the season, a 37-34 victory over Hosanna Christian (26-8) to conclude the regular season last Thursday.

“That was a quality win for us,” said Dorvin. “We took the lead in the fourth quarter and didn’t wilt. We made our free throws and closed them out.”

It was a stamp on what has to be considered a successful season for the Rebels, who returned to the playoffs after a tough 2008-09 campaign.

“We won 19 games, finished on a winning streak and were district runner-up. Overall it was a good season,” said Dorvin. “We hope to make it a little better next year.”