Matt Vines

LAKE PROVIDENCE – The Riverdale girls basketball team has been ranked No. 1 by the coaches of Class 2A in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, and now it’s time for the Lady Rebels to put that ranking to the test.

Riverdale will begin the Class 2A state tournament Wednesday as the No. 1 seed Lady Rebels (30-5) face No. 4 Delta Academy at tournament host Briarfield Academy. Riverdale drew the late game at 7:45 p.m.
These Lady Rebels know Delta Academy well as Riverdale effectively had their season ended this past year by Delta, a 46-31 loss in the state tournament semifinals.

While Delta Academy isn’t the team they were in 2024 and Riverdale is arguably better after having lost just one player from a 24-5 team a season ago, coach Trey Pittman knows all too well what Delta Academy is capable of.

“Delta has ended my championship hopes more than once,” Pittman said. “The year we went 42-1 in 2003, they put that ‘one’ there.

“They are extremely well coached, and our girls are certainly locked in.”

Riverdale has met Delta Academy once already this season, a 66-34 victory that started the Lady Rebels current 23-game winning streak.

“The key will be to limit turnovers against their press,” said Pittman, who leans on veteran point guard Mary Claire Jones and a guard-oriented bunch. “In our earlier meeting, they didn’t have an answer for Makayla Pickett or Hanna Huddleston down low.”

During Riverdale’s run to the Class 2A South title this past week, Pickett flashed her explosiveness with 29 first-half points in a blowout against Tensas Academy.

Younger sister Kaleigh Pickett opens the floor with her long-range shooting ability, which creates space for players like Jones and senior guard Jadyn King.

Riverdale ran roughshod over the regional bracket with three wins by an average of 38 points, including a 60-42 win against Briarfield in the title game. Jones scored a team-high 17 points with Kaleigh Pickett adding 12 and Julia Grace Riggs 11.

In the Class 2A state tournament, participants who reach the finals will advance to the overall state tournament, meaning Riverdale needs two wins to advance to the title game.

A win would have Riverdale meeting the winner of No. 2 seed Marvell Academy and No. 3 Mt. Salus.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 Columbus Christian and No. 2 Briarfield are the likeliest of opponents to reach the finals.