By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Riverside coach Kristy Hebert continues to see improvement from her young Lady Rebels, even if the wins are not yet materializing against a tough schedule.

The Rebels fell to Ellender on Monday, 77-53, and to De La Salle on Thursday night at the St. Martin’s tournament, 68-47.

In Thursday’s game, the momentum shifted the Cavaliers’ way for good in the second quarter, as they outscored the Rebels 27-8 in that frame to take a 39-14 halftime lead. Riverside outscored DLS 13-9 in the third quarter but could not muster a sustained push to get closer.

“They really hurt us underneath, on the boards,” said Hebert. “We got into some foul trouble. We just had a hard time stopping them inside.”

Toni Hebert led Riverside with 17 points. Kelsey Joseph scored 14 and Channan Simmons added 12.

Riverside stayed with Ellender for the first half of Monday’s game, trailing 17-12 after a quarter and 36-27 at halftime. But a hot shooting Patriots’ team outscored RA 41-26 in the second half to break things open.

“They’ve got a very good team. They probably shot 95-percent. That sounds like an exaggeration but they hit from everywhere,” said Coach Hebert. “It was what you usually are going to see from an Ellender team. They run up and down and make you try to keep up. They rotate in so many players. It always makes it difficult.”

Toni Hebert scored 19 to lead RA. Simmons scored 17 and Joseph scored 14.

Coach Hebert said that the quality of the team’s her team is facing will be beneficial in the long run. Furthermore, she is pleased with the attitude of her players, who she said have kept a positive outlook and who continue to improve.

“All I can ask is that they work hard to improve, and that’s what they’ve been doing,” she said. “Toni, Kelsey and Channan have gotten a lot of court time in the past, even though they’re young. But our front line doesn’t have that kind of experience. But in each game, each practice, they’re getting better. It’s good to see, and if that keeps up, the pieces will come together for us.”

Riverside will conclude play in the St. Martin’s tournament today.