Game Report: Rivercrest @ Osceola (1/9)

Preview   I hope everyone is staying warm because the entire state is blanketed with snow. Personally, I love the snowfall, but this is Arkansas, and when a single flake falls, the state practically shuts down. This includes basketball games, and I never like seeing games postponed or cancelled because of poor traveling conditions. However, some games were played yesterday in certain parts of the state before the winter weather became much of a problem.   Osceola hosted nearby Rivercrest High School, who traveled the 12 miles to face their eastern Arkansas opponent. The Osceola Lady Seminoles entered this game with a 2-7 overall record, as well as 1-3 against 3A-3 opponents. Despite their record and a few bad non-conference losses early in the year, Osceola has played some good basketball, losing several games in just the last few minutes.   Rivercrest is coming in 10-7 on the year, as well as 4-1 in conference play, which is good for 2nd in the 3A-3 behind Manila. So far on the year, the Rivercrest Lady Colts have been a team that consistently scores bunches of points, averaging 54.5 points per game. They are also a fantastic offensive rebounding team, averaging 16.5 second-chance boards a night. Both of these team stats apply to the damage done during the game.   Recap   In the first quarter, neither team was able to get into a consistent rhythm. Both teams used a fair amount of the shot clock on each possession, and Osceola ended the period with a 14-7 lead. Rivercrest would break away in the second quarter, scoring 27 points compared to the Lady Seminoles' 14. Shots were beginning to drop for both teams, especially for the Lady Colts, who were being led by one player throughout the entirety of the game. [player_tooltip player_id='1056355' first='Destiny' last='Burks'], who I will break down later, was killing the Seminole defense from inside and outside. They had no answer for the senior guard, and the first half ended with Rivercrest breaking away with 34-28 lead.   Rivercrest was shooting themselves in the foot during the third quarter with poor shot selection. This allowed Osceola to make a run, putting up 19 in the period, primarily from their play in transition. Despite Osceola's run, Rivercrest never went away, scoring just enough to keep the Seminoles from putting the game out of reach. It was at this time that the game became more physical, leading to more fouls and a couple of players getting into it at one point. Eventually, the quarter concluded with the two teams coming to a draw, 47-47.   In the fourth quarter, Rivercrest started to find the bottom of the bucket again, but Osceola was still feasting on the fastbreak, and at the free throw line.   With a minute remaining in regulation, the score was tied at 65. The Seminoles scored a clutch layup with 30 seconds left, but Rivercrest worked the clock down and tied the game up at 67. After a missed half-court shot, the two teams prepared to battle it out in one more period.   Osceola, despite being the home team, had a shorter bench than the visiting Lady Colts. It seemed like every Seminole was in foul trouble, and with only 7 healthy players, it was difficult to play defense without fouling. It was also glaring that the Seminoles were wearing down. Rivercrest would eventually pull away, taking advantage of costly Osceola turnovers, turning them into points. Overtime ended with Rivercrest coming away with a 78-72 win on the road.   Key Performances from Rivercrest Players    [player_tooltip player_id='1056355' first='Destiny' last='Burks'] has been Rivercrest's go-to scorer all season long, averaging 18.6 points per game on the year. In last night's matchup against Osceola, she did not fail to step up as the Colt's leading scorer once again.   Burks was the catalyst for Rivercrest all throughout the night, essentially carrying them in the first half and during the fourth quarter and overtime. Burks finished the game leading all scorers with 41 points along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block. She was the furthest thing away from afraid when it came to shooting. There was not a bad look for Burks, from inside or outside. The senior knocked down 5 triples, coming off the catch, off the bounce, and off a screen.   Burks pushed the pace of the game. If Osceola hit a big bucket, she was racing down to the other end to answer, usually silencing the home crowd in the process. Burks was most effective driving inside, where she could finish over the defense or draw contact. She was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, drawing fouls late in the game and hitting free throws in the last few minutes.   Burks is a creative scorer as well. On one occasion in the second half, the defender guarding Burks when she was prepared to throw an inbound pass had her back turned. The veteran guard threw the ball off her back, caught it, then turned and shot the wide-open layup. Besides scoring, Burks was also chasing after loose balls, leaving it all on the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1056355' first='Destiny' last='Burks'] is clearly Rivercrest's best player, and she showed it again last night. After that 41-point performance, it is obvious that we should all be keeping tabs on this senior.     Despite Burks scoring the bulk of the points, she needed her teammates to step up, with one of them being [player_tooltip player_id='1183263' first='Jalexia' last='Young']. The fellow senior had a slow first half, but she finally woke up in the second.   Young scored 8 of her 10 points in the second half, most coming in the fourth quarter. She also added 2 assists and 2 steals. Young was aggressive at attacking the basket late in the game. She took advantage of the tired Osceola defenders and was able to finish after blowing past them.   On the other end, Young played solid defense through all five periods. Rivercrest ran a full-court press that broke the Seminoles down at times, with Young often being the one tipping or intercepting passes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1183263' first='Jalexia' last='Young'] finished just under her season average of 11.6 points per game, but she showed up right when her team needed her to.     [player_tooltip player_id='1118034' first='Randashia' last='Booker'] was only averaging 6.0 points per game heading into last night's contest, but the way she played against Osceola showed why she is ranked at #25 in the 2028 class.   Booker finished with a stat line of 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Those numbers do not jump out at anyone, but considering most of them did not come until crunch time, you have to see it with a different perspective.   The freshman hit open outside shots late, but she was at her best when driving to the rim. Booker was able to finish through contact and use her athleticism to shoot over taller defenders. She also played solid defense, being a crucial part of that successful press.   [player_tooltip player_id='1118034' first='Randashia' last='Booker'] was another player who stepped up with the Colts needed her to. I think this young guard has a bright future in Wilson, Arkansas.    [player_tooltip player_id='1253989' first='Gabby' last='Harris'] 2027 F/C- Harris has been a key bench player for Rivercrest all season, and she really showed up last night. The sophomore put up 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. She was difficult to box out and she always seemed to be ready to receive a pass in the post. Harris was also active on the offensive glass, pulling down 3 boards and scoring off one or two.   Key Performances from Osceola Players   Despite the loss and their overall record, the Lady Seminoles have some talented players.    This was my first introduction to Osceola's freshman sensation, [player_tooltip player_id='1196013' first='Teriyah' last='Lee']. She will be making the 2028 ranking by the next update, and expect her to be pretty high up on the chart.   Lee was impressive from the opening tip to the end of the game. She finished with a team-high 24 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. Lee is a score-first guard who loves to initiate contact and head to the free throw line as often as she can. She went 9/14 from the charity stripe on the evening, along with nailing 2 3-pointers.   Lee was a confident shooter throughout the night, and her solid ball-handling was able to get her wherever she needed to go on the court. On the defensive end, she was applying tight on-ball pressure, keeping some of the Rivercrest guards in check.   [player_tooltip player_id='1196013' first='Teriyah' last='Lee'] is a star in the making. She is the future of Osceola basketball, and as long as she sticks around and continues to have success like she did last night, the Lady Seminoles will be a lot better than 2-8.     Osceola received a much-needed spark off the bench in [player_tooltip player_id='1196016' first='America' last='McNeal']. Despite the short rotation for the Seminoles, McNeal was a clear difference maker as one of the two reserves.   McNeal logged 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals off the bench, and she pretty much got her game going as soon as she entered the game in the first quarter. She was crashing the offensive glass hard, pulling down 6 boards on that end.   McNeal had several and-one opportunities, along with plenty of other trips to the free throw line. She was finishing extremely well through contact, and then capitalizing at the line.   [player_tooltip player_id='1196016' first='America' last='McNeal'] was a major difference-maker for Osceola. Without her double-double performance, the Seminoles probably do not even make it to overtime. This junior deserves more minutes!     [player_tooltip player_id='1196018' first='Arionna' last='Dolton'] had a nearly-identical stat line compared to [player_tooltip player_id='1196016' first='America' last='McNeal']'s. Dolton finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists, making plays all over the court.   Like McNeal, Dolton was active on the offensive glass, ripping away 5 of them. She would often sprint inside and chase after loose balls, giving her team a ton of extra opportunities. What was even more impressive was her ability to initiate her own offense.   Dolton has an impressive handle, and though she is not the strongest with her left hand, she can still break through a press singlehandedly, leaving the defense in the dust with her solid burst of speed. She was able to finish in the paint and take trips to the free throw line, making important baskets throughout the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1196018' first='Arionna' last='Dolton'] made great plays last night. She scored, took care of the basketball, and crashed the glass. Her outside shot was not exactly falling, so she did everything else a guard should be doing when that facet of her game is absent.    [player_tooltip player_id='1196021' first='Kensley' last='Whitfield'] 2028 PF/C- Whitfield is a long player who plays with more post passing prowess than most upperclasswomen. She finished the night with only 3 points but she made her mark in other areas, recording 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. That passing of hers I just mentioned was stellar. All of her assists were about as perfect as they come, hitting her teammates directly in their chest. Whitfield was Osceola's most effective playmaker, along with being their best shot-blocker. Her defense stepped up late in the game, coming up with some big rejections despite being worn down at the end. This is another freshman who will definitely be apart of the 2028 ranking before long.   Review   Osceola fell to 1-4 in conference play, and 2-8 on the year. Despite that, I think they have solid talent that can help them down the road. Of course, they are relying on a lot of younger players, but they have clearly shown that they can contribute right away.   Rivercrest continued to show why they are a top-2 team in the 3A-3. [player_tooltip player_id='1056355' first='Destiny' last='Burks'] also provided more evidence as to why she is the best player on the court at all times. This Lady Colt team will be intriguing to watch as the season goes along, but keep an eye on that entire 3A-3 conference.

Preview