RESERVE — There are only a few miles of highway separating River Parishes neighbors Riverside Academy and East St. John in Reserve, but the three Louisiana High School Athletic Association classifications that separate them ensure the two never will play each other for a state championship.

There are other titles to play for.

Riverside Academy and East St. John emerged victorious from Monday night’s rounds of the Holy Cross Tony Rodi Christmas Classic Basketball Tournament, setting up a Tuesday night showdown for the championship.

Riverside beat East St. John 70-57 to win the tournament Tuesday for the second year in a row. Herb McGee scored 26 points. Jared Butler finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and six steals.

Troy Green scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds for East St. John.

McGee was named tournament MVP.

Riverside (7-3) got to the final by overcoming a pair of challenges. The Rebels faced St. Thomas Christian of Houston Saturday, along with the Eagles’ two 6-foot-9 players. However, Riverside seemed to have little trouble taking an 85-50 win. Jared Butler led the scoring with 29 points. Herb McGee came through with 10 rebounds. Malik Crowfield had eight rebounds and eight assists.

Rebels coach Timmy Byrd said his team surprised the Eagles with its shooting skills.

“I just don’t think they were ready for our shooters,” Byrd said. “They played a zone (defense) and they just couldn’t match up with our guys.”

On Monday the Rebels took on a solid Class 5A East Ascension team that went into the game with an impressive record of 17-2. Riverside handed the Spartans a 64-54 loss. Butler scored another 29 points in that game. McGee scored 21, and Crowfield added 13.

East St. John (7-8) advanced to Tuesday night’s final with a 60-45 win over John Curtis on Saturday and a 47-38 win over Holy Cross on Monday. Troy Green and Javon Antonio led the Wildcats in Monday’s game with 14 points each.

Before this week, the last time Riverside and East St. John met was Jan. 5 in a very crowded Leon Godchaux Junior High gym. Riverside won that contest 101-77.

In other action, the St. Charles Catholic boys team traveled to Mobile, Ala., to compete in the UMS-Wright Prep Tournament. Comets coach Kemper Todd coached at UMS-Wright from 1994 to 2003 and led the team to a state championship.

The Comets (7-6) defeated Chickasaw Monday night, 60-39.

The St. Charles girls basketball team defeated Pearl River, 44-22, in the Hannan Tournament on Monday to improve to 12-3.

Lela Hill led the Lady Comets with 18 points. The team was scheduled to play Hannan at 5 p.m. Tuesday in tournament action.