By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Last season, Riverside lost a tough, close home opener to East Jefferson. The Lady Rebels refused to let it happen again.

Kelsey Joseph scored 20 points to lead Riverside Wednesday as the Rebels defeated the Warriors in decisive fashion, 57-36.

The Rebels (2-0) dominated the game in transition, a pressure-heavy defensive attack generating a slew of turnovers and opportunities to run.

“We just had confidence,” said Joseph. “We wanted to stay in their passing lanes … We knew the ball was coming and we were able to jump on it when it was.”

Said Rebels coach Kristy Hebert, “We talked about the close game last season and how we needed to get off to a quick start. Our shots weren’t falling but we took advantage of the transition game, made some steals … I was happy to see the adjustment. One part of our game wasn’t working, so we turned it up in another area to compensate.”

Toni Hebert scored nine for Riverside. Kennedy White scored seven, Kendra Turner six and Channan Simmons five.

Tiffany Soto scored 20 points to lead East Jefferson. Viantae Jackson scored six and Inkera Gill five for the Warriors.

The game pitted Coach Hebert against East Jefferson coach Chuck Dorvin for the second time in two years; Dorvin coached Hebert during her playing days at Ridgewood, where the two won a pair of state championships together. Dorvin also coached the Rebels during the 2009-10 season.

While Dorvin edged his pupil last season, Hebert’s team left nothing to chance from the start of Wednesday’s game. Simmons got the Rebels started with a jumper, then Toni Hebert and Simmons each hit a free throw to make it 4-0. Joseph scored inside, then did it again off of a steal and assist by Simmons to make it an 8-0 Riverside lead.

Soto leaked out for a layup for East Jefferson’s first basket with 3:38 left in the first quarter. Hebert answered with a 3-pointer, to make it 11-2. RA led 13-5 after the first quarter.

Simmons found Hebert in transition for a basket to begin the second quarter, pushing the Rebel lead to 10. Gill hit two free throws, but Joseph responded with a layup and a pair of free throws.

East Jefferson made a quick 6-0 run sparked by Jackson’s pull-up jumper. Joseph pushed the Rebel lead to 21-13 on her pull-up shot in the lane, then she made another fastbreak layup off of a steal. She assisted White for a bucket, then Jaimaya Bolden scored inside to cap an 8-0 run that made it 27-13.

“(Joseph) had a very good game tonight. She struggled in our opener, but I was proud of the way she stepped up tonight. She played more under control, more relaxed, and that was the difference.”

Said Joseph, “The jitters were out of me. I had a different mindset tonight.”

Riverside led 32-13 early in the second half before East Jefferson made one final push. Soto scored nine of her team’s first 11 points to start the second half to pull the Warriors within 12.

But with the Rebels ahead 40-26, Riverside pulled away with a 12-0 run to finish things off.

RIVERSIDE 50, RIVERDALE 23 — Riverside held Riverdale to three first quarter points and dominated from there in its opener at home Monday.

Toni Hebert scored 17 to lead all scorers. Simmons scored 10 and Joseph added eight.