By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Riverside fell in its season opener on Tuesday to Class 4A Live Oak, 52-17.

Lauren Doyle led the Rebels with six points. Heidi Garcich added five.

The Rebels were slated to host the game, but it was played at Reserve Christian as the Rebel gym will be undergoing repairs throughout the season’s first month. The gym was damaged by Hurricane Gustav.

Live Oak jumped out to a 27-12 halftime advantage.

“We didn’t shoot very well. Live Oak executed,” said Riverside Coach Kristy Hebert. “They’ve got a good, experienced team. We’re pretty young.

“But the bottom line is, we didn’t produce.”

The Rebels (0-1) will have a chance to quickly bounce back from the defeat. On Friday, the team faced De La Salle (after press time). On Sunday, it will begin play in the Battle on the Bayou tournament at the Alario Center.

Despite the losses of key senior starters in Marci Millet, Sarah Levin and Brittany Schoen, Hebert feels that with a roster full of players who have been in the program for a year, good things are on the way for her team as she begins her second season at the school.

“I really think we’ll have a successful season,” she said. “We’ve got the group from volleyball getting in. We’re not very big, so our defense is going to have to be our strong point. We’re young, but we have 16 players and I expect to use all of them. They’re all capable.”