Matt Vines

The Red River boys basketball team knows how to rebound from a loss.

After an early December loss to Captain Shreve, the Bulldogs (7-2) earned wins against solid squads in Bossier and Evangel Christian.

Now Red River is in the same boat after a full-strength Ruston scored a 62-47 victory at home against the Bulldogs on Friday.

The Bulldogs must move past that loss quickly with a trip to Natchitoches Central (9-3) today.

It’s the last game for Red River before Christmas and the second straight against a Class 5A opponent that advanced to the Top 28 this past season. After Santa Claus visits, Red River will also pay visits to Alexandria (Division I Select quarterfinals) and Gibsland-Coleman before the new year.

“Ruston has been good for the past several years, and they have Top 28 experience just as we do,” said Red River coach Dadrian Harris. “That experience of play always pushes a team to the next level.
“I think we can compete with anyone in the state as long we stick to what we do, and we get another chance against Natchitoches Central on Monday. None of these games determine our destiny, but after this stretch, we’ll get to see how much we have grown.”

Of course Red River has Top 28 experience as well after advancing to the Division III Non-Select championship game last year, of which the vast majority of those players returned. One of the three teams to beat NCHS is Marksville, the team who engineered a late comeback to top Red River in the title game.

Jomello McDonald, Warren Bowman, and Jayden Wells among others forms the core of a team whose 7-2 record so far this year includes wins against Byrd, North Caddo and Jonesboro-Hodge.

“We’ve had a good season so far, and we’ve gotten great bench production as different guys are showing up every night,” Harris said. “The football guys are getting in the groove, and the chemistry is growing constantly.

“We have a tough road ahead, but it allows to get a taste of consistent high-level basketball. We’ll have to bring our best every night, but I believe we’ll step up and handle our part. It’s always hard to play at NCHS, but it’s fun because the crowd is always into the game and brings the playoff atmosphere that we’re looking for.”

Riverdale Boys
The Riverdale boys are still looking to get back in the win column after a season-opening victory against Mount Olive Christian.

The Rebels (1-5) have fallen to Columbia Christian, Word of God Academy, Lamar Christian, Ben’s Ford Christian and FTCA all by double-digits.

Next up on the schedule is a home game against River Oaks on Dec. 30 before launching into district play on Jan. 3.

Red River Girls
Red River is 6-6 on the season after a pair of losses in the Logansport tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs fell to Class 2A power Lakeview (54-33) for the second time this season before losing to host Logansport (56-47).

It’s the first loss in a game decided by less than 10 points after earlier close wins against North DeSoto (29-26) and Bossier (43-36).

Red River heads to Natchitoches Central today with a Gibsland-Coleman trip lined up for Dec. 30.

Riverdale Girls
The Riverdale girls are getting tested in their early season, despite a 13-5 record that includes six straight wins.

The Lady Rebels have won five of those six games by at least 10 points and four by 20 or more.

Calhoun Academy (56-50) and River Oaks (40-29) were the closest victories during that stretch, and

Riverdale will attempt a third victory over River Oaks this season when the Lady Mustangs visit Dec. 30.

Of Riverdale’s five losses, four losses have come to two teams – Riverfield Academy and Silliman Institute.

The Lady Rebels most recently fell to Riverfield (40-22) on Dec. 10 and to Silliman (36-35) on Dec. 7.