This game was intense from the moment of tip-off. After the Knights defeated University Prep by twenty in the last meeting on January 27th tonight was just a bit different. It was as if the Jaguars practiced just to give Riverside Prep a good game and that is exactly what the fans received. Ears are still ringing from the noise that the crowd brought to gym as the game was back and forth with each team not willing to give an inch. It looked as if the Knights had the game under control after the first quarter when they led 7-4. But the Jaguars would even out the scoring when they outscored Riverside Prep 11-5 in the third. Rebounding wasn’t a problem for the Knights as they finished with a team total of forty-four, but in some cases it was the second chance opportunities that they didn’t capitalize on that kept University Prep in the game. With just minutes remaining, and University Prep in the bonus it was time for the Lady Knights to step it up at the free throw line. Free Throws seem to be what has given them the most trouble this season and it was a big part in the loss to Joshua Springs dating back to January 28th. Tonight was to be a good night for them at the stripe as they were able to hit enough free throws to edge them by and keep their momentum. Toni Carmona would be called upon to hit one of the biggest free throws of the game. After being beaten and bruised she mustered up the strength to sink the first one giving the Knights the lead with just 6.3 seconds left on the clock. The crowd would remain silent as the second free throw hit the front of the rim, but Vanessa Keys was alert enough to grab the rebound as she took another shot which also missed and the ball landed in the Jaguars paws with 2.2 seconds left on the game clock as they got the timeout called. It was all left upon the inbound pass, and a nearly impossible task was set upon the Jaguars as they would have to drive the length on the court if they wanted to score the game winning bucket. In desperation they threw the ball away as it slipped right through the hands of their player and rolled out of bounds. The Knights would raise their hands in relief as they won the game 26-25. This was the first one point nail biter since Breena Ladao sunk the game winning three in the second game of the season which occurred on December 3rd. Toni Carmona would finish with six points and what would turn out to be the game winning free throw. Tiffany almost had another double-double, but she came up one basket short finishing a great night with nine points and sixteen rebounds. The Lady Knights are playoff bound and want to end the season with a four game winning streak as they square up against Citrus in what will be the season finale on February 12th.
Written by: Ryan Libby RPSN
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