Lady Rams defeat Lady Cats for the 2nd time in five days.
LOST CREEK, Ky. – February 6, 2020 – Brendon D. Miller
Riverside and Breathitt staged an absolute dandy on Thursday Night on the Banks of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. Riverside Christian’s remarkable season continued as the Lady Cats from Jackson came to Lost Creek for a rematch after Riverside’s historic 69-66 win on Saturday at the Fairce O. Woods Coliseum. That win was the 1st win for Riverside over Breathitt County in girls basketball in the history of both schools.
The tiny and beloved (who in Breathitt County has not ever played or attended a game there?) Riverside gym was packed to near capacity, and the crowd grew in enthusiasm pregame as Riverside presented Senior Jordan Neace with her 1,000 point ball as she had reached that plateau in a recent game.
The Lady Rams came out with aggressive play and took an early lead. Seniors Jordan Neace and Malin Voth each had four points to lead the the Lady Rams in the Quarter. Breathitt got four each from Riley Bush and Lexie Francis. End of the 1st Quarter, Riverside led 11-8.
Breathitt got going in the 2nd Quarter as Haley Back led scoring with six, while Kaylee Clemons had five and Bush added four more to her stats. Malin Voth added six to her total and Avery Voth had four. The half ended with the score knotted at 27.
Emily Neace heated up in the 3rd with eight points, on 3 of 6 shooting from the line, and Chelsea Stivers had five. Breathitt got six each from Kelli White and Kaylee Clemons. Riverside led headed to the pivotal and tournament seed-deciding 4th, 46 to 45.
The 4th quarter was an epic, tight, and a back and forth battle. Clemons again led the Lady Cats in the frame putting in seven points including a crucial corner three pointer. Francis and Rhegan Stallard both added five to bring the Lady Cats to the brink of the win.
Emily Neace was the difference maker for the Lady Rams as the young 8th grader (13 years old) had nine of her game-high 23 at crunch time. With Breathitt leading 63-61, Neace connected on a huge three pointer at the 1:23 mark to put the Lady Rams ahead 64-63. Riverside would then increase their lead to three on an Avery Voth basket on a great assist on the break from Jordan Neace. Clemons answered to make it 66-65, and after a foul, Jordan Neace headed to the line with :22 on the clock. Malin Voth got the biggest rebound of the game for the Rams as she grabbed the second miss and kicked the ball out to Emily Neace, who was fouled. Neace toed the line and coolly converted both, not drawing rim on either shot, to make the score Riverside 68 – Breathitt 65.
After a Stallard basket for the Lady Cats cut the lead back to one, Riverside stepped on the sideline on the in bounds to give Breathitt the ball back with :04 to go. Clemons put up the potential winner, but it was just off and the Lady Rams celebrated their 2nd historic win of the week.
What a show by these great young ladies. It was a privilege to be able to be in the gym and bring you the action.
With the win, Riverside Christian will be the #2 seed in the 55th District Tournament and take on #2 seed Jackson City. Breathitt will face #1 seed Wolfe County. The Tournament begins on February 24th, at the Fairce O. Woods Coliseum in Jackson, and as of now, BSN plans to formally broadcast all five games of the tournament!!!
SCORING:
RIVERSIDE 11-16-19-22 = 68
Emily Neace – 23; Malin Voth – 14; Jordan Neace – 9; Chelsea Stivers – 6; Avery Voth – 6; Julieann Neace – 5; Haley Getson – 5.
BREATHITT 8-19-18-22 = 67
Kaylee Cemons – 18; Riley Bush – 14; Lexie Francis – 11; Kelli White – 10; Haley Back – 7; Rheagan Stallard – 7.