Rebels improve on defense against Burlington Huskies

By KARLA POMEROY

Riverside Coach Brent Winters went into last Friday’s game at Burlington with a focus on defense. The Rebels were able to hold the Huskies to the second lowest points allowed this season, 59.

Winters said his focus on defense may have hurt the offense as Riverside had the lowest points scored on the season at 21. The field goal percentage was also a season low at 18 percent and no Rebel got into double figures in scoring.

Burlington, helped again with some quick points off transition from the press, jumped to an 18-4 first-quarter lead. The Huskies led 18-1 until Jared Jares hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Huskies out-pointed the Rebels 13-7 in the second quarter to lead 31-11 at the half.

Burlington outscored Riverside 28-10 in the second half, holding Riverside to one point in the fourth quarter as they won going away, 59-21.

Clint Getzfreid led Riverside with eight points, hitting both 3-pointers he attempted and both free throws. The Huskies were led by Shawn Christiansen with 16 points.

“I thought defensively we did a good job,” Winters said, adding that a few times during the game he had the team put pressure on Burlington as they brought the ball down the court to try and slow the tempo.

The offensive woes he attributed in part to Burlington’s defense. “They’re a good defensive team. It was hard to get open shots and once we did we were a bit tentative in shooting. They made us adjust our shots,” Winters said.

He added, “We had our ups and downs in the game. I was pleased defensively. The boys tried hard and worked hard.”

With Riverside not competing in the Fremont County Shootout as originally scheduled, Riverside will have a break until Jan. 9 when they travel to Ethete to play Wyoming Indian, currently undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the WyoPreps.com poll.

Winters said Monday that the team will practice Monday-Wednesday this week and Monday-Wednesday next week. He said they likely will not have everyone practicing during the break as only about five players said they would be in town next week, which is one of the reasons the team pulled out of the Fremont County Shootout.

This week’s focus will be on the transition game as well as general defensive and offensive schemes.

RIVERSIDE (21)

Clint Getzfreid 2 2-2 8, Dan Koch 0 0-0 0, Zach Christopherson 0 0-0 0, Jordan Herman 1 1-2 3, Jared Jares 1 1-2 4, Mike Miller 1 0-0 2, JL Miller 0 0-0 0, Brynnt Wood 1 2-6 4, Brandon Black 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 6-12 21. 3-pointers: Getzfreid (2), Jares (1).

REBOUNDS 22; Wood 8, Jares 6. ASSISTS 5; M.Miller 3. STEALS 3. TURNOVERS 27. FOULS 11. Fouled out — None.

BURLINGTON (59)

Tim Davidson 1 0-1 2, Matthew Christiansen 0 0-0 0, Spencer Jones 2 1-2 5, Landon Tolman 3 0-0 7, Sam Davidson 5 0-0 11, Zach Lash 0 0-0 0, Anson George 1 0-0 2, Shawn Christiansen 7 0-0 16, Kurt McIntosh 3 0-1 6, Daniel Davidson 1 1-2 3, Porter Jones 3 1-3 7, Ammon Howard 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 3-9 59. 3-pointers: S. Christiansen (2), Tolman.

REBOUNDS 29; STEALS 13; TURNOVERS 11; ASSISTS 15; FOULS 9. Fouled out — None.