by RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

METAIRIE – Riverside made a feverish comeback effort in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game against Haynes but ultimately fell short as the Yellow Jackets clinched second place in District 9-2A with a 61-45 victory at home.

Riverside needed a win to stay alive for the second automatic postseason bid from 9-2A. The Rebels needed to defeat Haynes, then would have had to do it again in a district playoff game.

The Rebels trailed by as many as 21 in the third quarter but got as close as seven thanks to a relentless press in the fourth quarter that forced a plethora of Haynes turnovers.

But the Yellow Jackets recovered by forcing a few turnovers of their own and converting them to points, and let Riverside get no closer.

“We really played well tonight,” said Haynes coach Michael Bonura. “This is the first team at Haynes to automatically qualify for the playoffs in any sport, as a district runner-up or champion. We’re very proud of that. It was a goal of ours to begin the season.”

Riverside coach Trenese Smith said that she thinks her team played its best stretch of basketball this season during the comeback effort, though it fell short.

“I told them going into the fourth that I didn’t care what the result was, I wanted to see them leave it all out there,” she said. “And they responded. They’re scrappy.”

Riverside (8-17, 4-4) cut an 11-point Haynes lead to nine on Kristy Milioto’s desperation turnaround jumper as time expired in the first half, and Haynes led 29-20 to begin the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets increased their lead quickly as Riverside struggled to score from the field. Erefaka Derefaka scored on an open layup underneath to make it 31-20, then Chloe d’Aquin canned a 3-pointer to push the lead to 14. Derefaka scored in transition to make it a 16-point lead, then Maddison Wells hit two free throws to make it 38-20. Derekafa scored off of a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass to make it an 11-0 run to begin the second half.

“We went too long without scoring,” said Smith. “That drought was what really hurt us.”

Jamie Bolden scored for Riverside to finally stop the run, but Haynes (16-10, 6-2) would eventually lead by 21 when Wells scored with no time left in the third quarter to make it 48-27.

From there, Smith switched up her lineup and called for an all-out, full court press. The Rebels found much success with it.

Karrontae Victor opened up the fourth with a pair of free throws, then Kelsie Joseph scored on a drive to make it a 17-point game. After the Rebels forced a turnover, Jermani Thompson canned a 3-pointer to make it a 14-point game and Haynes was forced to call a timeout after the Rebels scored seven straight points in the first 1:22 of the period.

Joseph scored after a stop coming out of the time out to make it 48-36 and Thomson would add a free throw to make it an 11-point game. Amira Karagic hit one-of-two free throws at the other end to lift the lead back to 12, but Bolden converted a bucket after leaking out in front of the defense in transition to make it 49-39. Channon Simmons swished a 3-pointer through with 3:51 left to play as the Rebel fans who traveled to Metairie were whipped into a frenzy, their team now down just seven.

“We didn’t have a choice. We fell behind by too many,” said Smith. “We had to go to that man-to-man pressure.”

“Nobody’s come out and pressed us in probably over a month,” said Bonura. “(Derefaka) was on the bench with some fouls and she’s a big part of our press break. It took us a little while to adjust to that. The kids held their composure though.”

But d’Aquin, as she did many times throughout the night, made a big play to stunt the Rebels’ momentum. She stole the ball and broke loose for a layup to turn Haynes’ lead to nine. Then Emily Gillis made two free throws to make it 53-42.

Riverside didn’t have another push in it. With the score 55-43, Gillis drew a charge against Simmons with 1:58 remaining and Haynes would go on to increase its lead at the foul line. The Rebels scored just once more on the night, on a Joseph drive.

D’Aquin led Haynes with 19 points. Wells had 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Joseph led the Rebels with 16. Simmons chimed in with seven. Bolden, Thompson and Victor each scored five.

The Rebels have one more game left this season, a non-district contest against Hosanna Christian on Thursday.

Smith said that after the game, her team didn’t hang their heads.

“They all want to keep playing,” said Smith. “They’re all asking me if we’re going to play summer league. They don’t want to stop.”