The Richland Rebel Basketball Team took on the Risco Tigers tonight on their home court. The game should be labeled as one of the most intense games of the season this far. The game was very quick-paced and every player was on their feet and ready as the ball was passed quickly around, leaving the crowd on the edge of their seats for a large portion of the night.
During the first quarter, the Rebels instantly got the tip off due to senior Richard Forshee. The ball was quickly rebounded and taken by the Tigers as their top scorer of the night sank the first three pointer of the night while in midair. The Rebels retaliated and got a layup as both teams began to compete for the ball. Passing quickly and efficiently was crucial and while time was ticking, the players moved too fast and the ball continuously fell into the wrong hands.
The two teams were constantly tied or had a difference of one point nearly the whole first quarter. For a few moments, the Tigers had the lead of five points but the Rebels quickly got the ball and in less than a minute, took the lead back. With many fouls and free throws, the lead was passed back and forth between both teams but the Rebels ended the first quarter with senior Jesse Barnes snatching the ball and going in for a layup on the buzzer, bringing the quarter to the Rebels’ favor at 20 to 19.
The Rebels started off strong in the second quarter and the teams were tied at 22 for a long while until the Tigers took the lead after hitting two three pointers right in a row, creating a fairly large gap that the Rebels couldn't keep up with. The Tigers continue to stay in the lead by making free throws after multiple fouls. The Tigers held a ten point lead, which would almost be constantly held for the rest of the game. The Rebels attempted to close the gap but let up on their defense and allowed the Tigers to keep scoring. Forshee grabbed each rebound for his team but the players could not get down the court quick enough, resulting in the Tigers taking the second quarter at 45 to 34 with sophomore Marcus Grayson scoring at the buzzer.
While the teams rested and created a new game plan during half time, the Pep Band performed. The band played Land of 1000 Dances, Ipso Funko, Go Big Red, Iron Man, and the crowd’s favorite: Crazy Train. The Pep Band is made up of both junior high and high school band students and they perform at every home game.
When the third quarter began, the Rebels took the ball and scored at the very beginning, but they were still down by ten and could not seem to get passed that gap that the Tigers created. The Rebels would begin to collect points but Risco was never far behind them and would sustain the lead once again. Senior Nick Daniels hit a three pointer and the Rebels were only down by six. With a foul called on Risco, the players got another chance while junior Adam Lane made both of his free throws. The Rebels only trailed by 3 points but the sudden hope in the team and in the fans was diminished once there were multiple fouls called on Richland, resulting in the Tigers scoring single points off of free throws and leading by ten again.
The Rebels seemed to lose their hope in the fourth quarter and the ten point lead held by the opposing team turned into a fifteen point lead. The players fought for their team but the Tigers eventually took the win with a final score of 96 to 76. After four straight wins on Richland’s court, the Rebels fell to the Tigers.
