By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – The anticipation at Riverside has grown by the day during its Rebels’ postseason basketball run. Today, it reaches a boiling point.

Riverside (34-6), Class 2A’s top-seeded squad, will make its first-ever appearance at the Boys Top 28 basketball tournament today when it tips off against Evangel (33-5) at the Lafayette Cajundome. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

While many of Riverside’s players and coach Timmy Byrd are veterans of the Top 28 — making the jump to the school after Class C powerhouse Reserve Christian closed its doors last summer, this is unchartered territory for Riverside.

“Everyone’s just really excited,” said Riverside senior point guard Kyle McClue. “This is all new for them (at Riverside). You can just feel the excitement around the school.”

Riverside has already prepared a “fan bus,” expecting an excellent turnout, as has been the case throughout the Rebels playoff run — and really, the season.

“I really want to win it so much for the fans and the school,” said Riverside senior guard Cedric Jenkins.

Says Riverside coach Timmy Byrd: “Our kids are so excited about going to the Top 28 and representing Riverside. They really don’t want to let the fans down.”

Those fans were a big boon in Riverside’s 72-52 quarterfinal victory at Springfield on Friday night, as the Rebel fanbase was well-represented in a hostile road environment.

“If we didn’t have those fans there, we might have been in a lot of trouble,” said Byrd. “Our guys have fed off the emotion of those fans. Their support has been unbelievable.”

While the Rebels’ margin of victory was convincing enough, Springfield hung tough for three quarters and controlled the game for a stretch in the first half.

“We needed to face some adversity,” said Jenkins. “Winning by 40 points every game (doesn’t prepare Riverside).”

Said McClue: “Things didn’t go our way early in that game. Now we feel like we can pull it out no matter what situation we’re in.”

Evangel coach Reni Mason knows his fifth-seeded Eagles are very much the underdog in this evenings semifinal game and said he “doesn’t have enough compliments” for the Rebels deep and talented roster.

“To watch them on film, they’re amazing physically,” said Mason. “They’re skilled at every position, just an outstanding basketball team.”

Much like Riverside, which had only won one playoff game prior to this season, Evangel is enjoying unprecedented success on the hardwood as well.

“I know Evangel is considered to be s football school,” said Mason. “Every step beyond the second round has been a new step for us.”

It culminated in the Eagles’ 66-56 quarterfinal win at fourth-seeded Many last week.

“We were very fortunate to come out of there with a win, when you consider the rich tradition of Many,” said Mason. “They played extremely well. We just made one or two more plays.”

Evangel is led by senior forward Devin George, who boasts an average of 17 points per game. Point guard Charles Tucker is another who Mason calls a major key to his team’s success.

But overall, it’s done by committee, he said.

“Eight or nine guys, and no one truly stands out over the others,” said Mason.

Byrd said he knows Evangel boasts a roster of “high major” athletes who will push his team physically.

“They really kill people on the boards,” said Byrd. “They create a lot of points off of turnovers and they’ve got two 6-foot-5 wide bodies. They definitely present a challenge.”

The Rebels have some size of their own, headed by 6-foot-7 center Ricardo Gathers, who leads RA in scoring at 19.9 points per game.

Jenkins provides the lead outside threat, scoring 19 a game. Louis Dabney scores 12.5 a game, and Ed Gallina adds 11 a contest.