The Pilots’ Jensen Caretti gets the tip over the Eagles’ Mallory Chapman. (All photos by Bruce Crawford)

River 51,

Magnolia 46

Lady Pilot Jensen Caretti became the single-game high scorer in girls’ basketball at River High School when she poured in 42 points and grabbed 18 boards to lead her team to a 51-46 victory over the Magnolia Lady Blue Eagles Jan. 4 inside the R.L. Potts Gymnasium.

River took a 10-7 advantage after the first eight minutes of play and held on to a 29-26 lead at the break. Caretti was unstoppable, scoring at will and controlling the paint offensively as well as defensively. She also swatted away four Blue Eagle shots. Landyn Ramsay took care of the shots outside the perimeter, swishing two bonus bombs and eight markers to give the home team a comfortable 44-35 lead heading into the final stanza.

Although the Lady Eagles were able to trim the deficit a tad, every time they drew close, Caretti came through with a big bucket to keep Magnolia at bay and secure River’s second victory this season over the Lady Blue.

Blue Eagle Chase Miller goes airborne to get a shot over the Pilots’ Ryan Indermuhle.

Besides Caretti’s 42 points and Ramsay’s eight markers, Haylee Bowers contributed seven points and a game-high five assists, while Abby Caldwell netted five points.

For the Lady Eagles, it was Grace Berisford and Mallory Chapman leading the way with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Chapman earned another double-double with 10 rebounds, while Berisford contributed four steals, three assists, and two blocked shots.

In addition, Kierra Standiford netted a season-high 10 points, while Kelsi Chapman sank three points and Cierra Fowler and Katie Blatt each netted a deuce for Magnolia. Taylor Ludewig had a team-high three assists.

The Lady Eagle jayvee team took care of the Pilots 51-46, despite an 18-point performance by Lady Pilot Haylee Winkler. Magnolia’s Anna Gibb scored 16 points, while Jordan Dulaney netted 10 and Autumn Cecil nine points for the Lady Eagles.

Magnolia 73,

River 52

Magnolia’s Preston Boswell and Zach Wilhoite teamed for 43 points to lead the Blue Eagles to a convincing 73-52 victory over the River Pilots Jan. 3 inside R.L.Potts Gymnasium.

The Eagle defense held the Pilots to single digits in each of the first two periods to grab a 32-11 halftime lead and cruised the rest of the way.

Boswell paced the Eagles with a game-high 23 points, including four baskets from beyond the arc, while dishing out five assists. Wilhoite contributed 20 markers and blocked four Pilot shots. In addition, Spencer Campbell tacked on 18 points, including three bonus bombs, while Mitch Winters knocked in nine points and pulled down nine rebounds. Chase Miller tacked on a deuce, while Kyle Ritz added a free throw.

Eric Dierkes scored 14 markers, while Joey Flannery netted 13 markers to pace the River Pilots in the scoring department. Ryan Indermuhle and Parker Caretti evenly split a dozen points, while Jarrett Armann added five tallies, including one bucket from beyond the arc.

In addition, Brandon Smith, Cole Isaly, Aaron Yost, and Jared Ramsier each netted a deuce for the Pilots

*****

The River Pilot freshmen team defeated Magnolia 38-35 and the Magnolia junior varsity team returned the favor, winning 41-38 to complete the River versus Magnolia marathon games Jan. 3.

River 36,

Shenandoah 22

The River Pilot defense held the Shenandoah Zeps to single digits in every quarter but the last one to claim a hard-fought 36-22 victory inside R.L. Potts Gymnasium Jan. 3.

Dierkes was the lone double-digit scorer in the game, netting 12 points, while Parker Caretti netted the lone bonus bomb of the game to go along with five tallies. Indermuhle, Flannery and Ramsier each netted four markers, while Armann knocked in three markers. Smith and Isaly finished the Pilot scoring with two points each.