By GEORGE MAHL

RESERVE – It was one of those games where you hated to see a team lose.

Two undefeated district teams, Riverside Academy and Newman High School, went at it toe-to-toe recently for four quarters. In the end, Newman proved they are not the defending District 9-2A champions for nothing.

Three Greenie starters scoring in double figures lifted Newman (15-4, 5-0 district) to a 51-46 victory over host Riverside (8-9, 4-1 district).

“I have nothing bad to see about how we played tonight. We gave our best effort of the season against a good team,” said RA head coach Jenny Zeringue.

Newman was led by Lauren Moiton, who finished with 21 points.

Things looked bleak for the Lady Rebels near the end of the third quarter. The Greenies had a 37-26 lead with about three minutes remaining. However, the Lady Rebels refused to go quietly in the fourth quarter.

A 46-37 Newman lead rapidly became a 49-44 game with less than two minutes to play.

RA senior Crystal Rome hit a turnaround jumper making the score 49-44. Her basket made the Riverside fans go into a frenzy. However, two clutch free throws from Rada Koleva gave NHS a 51-44 lead with 19 seconds to play. Koleva’s free throws put the game on ice.

“If you want to use this game as a measuring stick, then I would say we are more than capable of beating this team or any team,” Zeringue said.

During the first quarter, both teams were able to execute on the offensive side. Riverside forward Chelsea Albares made a layup giving the Lady Rebels a 7-6 lead with 3:52 left in the quarter.

Then, after RA point guard Jamie Johnson sank two foul shots, Moiton came back to hit a three-pointer, thus reclaiming the lead, 12-10, and silencing the Riverside faithful. Moiton scored her team’s final seven points of the first period.

Trailing 21-12 near the beginning of the second quarter, the Lady Rebels went on a 7-0 run, capped off by Rome’s three-point shot, which brought Riverside to within two points.

However, a 7-2 spurt to close out the half gave the Greenies a 30-24 lead going into the locker room.

Newman starter Tracy Blackerby was responsible for five of the seven points to close out the half. Leading scorers for Riverside included Rome (15 points), Albares (10 points) and Karen Cortez (7 points).

Leading the way for Newman were Moiton (21 points), Tiffany Jones (12 points) and Blackerby (11 points).

Riverside returns home Tuesday when the Lady Rebels take on Buras.