Rebels win thrice, but fall to St. Thomas Aquinas in Sunkist tourney

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 2, 2010

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Riverside won three times this week at the Sunkist Shootout tournament this week in Lafayette, but fell for the third time this season, this time to a fellow Class 2A foe.

The Rebels topped Comeaux, Many and Vandebilt Catholic, but lost in double overtime to St. Thomas Aquinas, 91-88.

“Every year it happens, and you’re not sure when it comes, but you hit that mental and physical wall,” said Rebels coach Timmy Byrd. “I thought we came out strong against Comeaux. But in the last three games, we didn’t have that same kind of energy.”

Four Rebels scored in double figures against Comeaux (10-6). Ed Gallina, Ricardo Gathers and Franklin Francois each scored 12 while Cedric Jenkins added 11 – as Riverside rolled to a 24-point halftime lead and was never challenged.

But though Riverside led by 20 in the first half against St. Thomas Aquinas, the Falcons were determined to not suffer the same fate as the Rebels’ first opponent.

STA (12-4) wiped out a 14-point Riverside lead after three quarters to tie the game at the end of regulation.

The teams needed a second overtime to decide things, and the Falcons outscored Riverside 10-7 in that frame to notch the win.

“They cut the lead to nine at halftime, and we couldn’t really get things going,” said Byrd. “They seized the momentum, and toward the end of regulation we made some really careless turnovers.

“St. Thomas Aquinas played more desperately than we did, and played very well.”

Riverside got 23 points from Gathers, 15 from Jenkins, 13 from Francois and 12 from Louis Dabney.

But the Rebels couldn’t overcome Zay Jackson’s 31 points – he led the Falcons, who also got 24 from Stephen Wronkoski.

27 turnovers also proved Riverside’s undoing.

“We didn’t take care of the ball, and I attribute a lot of that to fatigue,” said Byrd. “We’ve played a lot of games, and in a lot of tournaments. Its something we need to find a way to get through.”

Riverside rebounded to defeat Many (14-3), last year’s Class 2A runner-up, 67-58.

The Rebels got off to a slow start, trailing 28-22 at halftime. But an explosion in the third quarter but RA in the driver’s seat.

Riverside outscored Many 35-13 to take a 16 point lead, and it held on from there.

Cedric Jenkins scored 24 points – 18 of those coming in that third quarter surge.

“He gave us a huge lift offensively,” said Byrd.

Gallina scored 16 and Gathers added 11.

Nick Jacobs led Many with 16.

Finally, RA rallied from behind entering the fourth quarter to knock off Vandebilt Catholic (7-8) 71-69.

Jenkins scored 21. Francois scored 17, and Dabney added 10.

Elijah McGuire scored 23 for Vandy.

“It’s tough, because you always want to send a message and not let these teams you’ll see later (in the playoffs) confidence,” said Byrd, referring to STA and Many.

“Unfortunately, we probably did that. But we feel good about things down the road. We just need to get our own momentum going.”

That could begin tonight, as Riverside travels to face Christian Life in Baton Rouge – a team Byrd refers to as perhaps the best in Louisiana. Tipoff is for 7 p.m.