By Molly Seales
On Friday, November 18, the Riverdale Academy Rebels and Lady Rebels traveled to Claiborne Academy to open their regular basketball season. Under the direction of new coach Cliff New, the Rebels and Lady Rebels came away with 3 out of 4 wins. In the first game of the evening, the JV Lady Rebels defeated Claiborne 28-21. Makayla Pickett led the team in scoring with 9 points and rebounds with 8 boards. Mary Claire Jones had 5 points, 4 deflections, and 3 assists. Ally Kate Hillman and Kynnedi Taylor had 4 points each, with Hillman having 3 boards and Taylor having 7 boards. Charity Williamson and Emma Giddings had 2 points and 3 rebounds each. Williamson had 2 steals and Giddings had 2 blocked shots. Madelyn Chamberlin and Kaleigh Pickett each chipped in a free throw to round out the scoring, and each of them had 2 rebounds. In JV boys action, Claiborne defeated Riverdale 50-22. Tanner Carlisle led the team with 7 points and also had 5 boards. Colin Bates added 5 points. Ashton Almond and Cannon Breedlove each had 4 points and 2 rebounds. Zane Givens had 2 points and led the team in rebounds with 7 and in steals with 5. 7th graders Hayden Cason, Jackson Hillman, and Kaden McNeely gave the Rebels some valuable minutes with Cason having 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 deflections, while Hillman had 3 boards and 2 steals. McNeely had 2 steals and a rebound.
Both varsity games were great spectators’ games. The Lady Rebels defeated Claiborne 45-42 in an overtime thriller. With Claiborne ahead by 2, freshman Hanna Huddleston grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it up for 2 points and got fouled on the shot. She made the free throw to put Riverdale up by one. Next trip down the court, junior Madison Chamberlin pulled down a rebound and was fouled. With the Rebels in the bonus, Chamberlin calmly went to the free throw line and drained both shots to seal the deal at 45-42. Freshman Makayla Pickett started off her high school career with a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. She also had 3 deflections, 2 steals, and a blocked shot. Freshman Mary Claire Jones scored 10 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, 3 deflections, a blocked shot, and led the team in assists with 3 and steals with 4. Georgia Carlisle added 8 points, including 2 3-pointers. Huddleston had 7 points and 6 rebounds. Chamberlin had 2 points, 6 rebounds, and led the team in deflections with 4. Sophomore Jadyn King had 2 points, 6 rebounds, a steal, and 3 deflections.
The varsity boys’ game was back and forth the entire game, but at the end Riverdale turned it up and pulled away to win 51-44. Senior Thad Bates led the team in scoring with 13 points and in deflections with 3. He also pulled down 8 rebounds. Senior Jace Wilhite was also in double figures with 11 points. Junior Kyle Guillory had 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while junior Ryder Huddleston had 8 points and led the team in rebounds with 9 and deflections with 3. Senior Mason Murray had 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Senior guard Ben Almond had 4 points and led the team in assists with 7 and steals with 6.
Tuesday night, November 29, is the annual Meet the Rebels game. On Saturday, December 3, PVA will travel to Riverdale with the JV boys game beginning at 4:00 p.m. followed by varsity girls and varsity boys. We wish the Rebels and Lady Rebels the best of luck this season.
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