River Pilots Win OVAC 2A Basketball Title

Just one week after the River Girls won the OVAC, the Boys Basketball team took home the championship as well. Both teams have been ultra successful this season and are preparing for more success as they get ready for state tournament action.

On Saturday in Cadiz at Harrison Central high school the Pilots took care of business against a familiar foe Monroe Central for the third time this season. The cross county rivals met twice in January, with River winning both by 20 or more points.

While Saturdays game was for all the marbles the Pilots once again defeated the Seminoles, by a score of 48-33.

In what looked to be a low scoring affair (18-11) at the half, River got on track in the third quarter and ended up scoring 30 points in the half to overcome a cold shooting night, Brody Lollathin led the way with 18 points. Junior guard Kabel Isaly finished with 12 markers, but eight came in the crucial third frame to extend the Pilots slim lead. Ty Long added seven points for the Pilots while Peyton Blue contributed six.

River led in rebounds with Lollathin, Long and Blue all getting six boards, most leading to easy put backs off the glass. The Pilots defensive pressure caused problems for Central all game long resulting in 18 turnovers. The Seminoles were led by sophomore Tucker Howell who canned 16 points on the day.

River Tops Shadyside To Advance To OVAC Campionships

The Pilots welcomed a familiar foe to town on Tuesday night, February 7, as they hosted Shayside high school for their third meeting this season. The Pilots had won the previous two and needed to make it three to make the OVAC final. River was the number one seed while the Tigers came in seeded fourth. The result was the same as the first two meetings with River getting the win 42-31, to improve to 18-3 on the season.

Junior guard Kabel Isaly led all scorers in the contest as he knocked in 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. He was backed on the night by senior Brody Lollathin with 11, including a three ball. River Thompson pitched in with eight markers, including a trey, while Ty Long added four points, and Kaden Johnson and Finn Bowers each had two.

The Pilots hit 14-44 shots from the floor, including four 3ás and made 10-16 from the free throw line. Shadyside made 9-35 shots from the floor and went 11-16 from the charity stripe.