Rebels to lean on only returning starter in early going

After losing seven seniors off last year’s team, Coach Scott Winters acknowledges that the Riverside Rebels are in “a bit of a rebuild” heading into the 2025-26 season, but that everyone is embracing the challenge in the early going. 

“As a coaching staff we’re excited to see the growth and development this season,” Winters said.

The Rebels went 9-16 overall, 3-7 in their conference last season. Scoring was an issue, as Riverside ranked as the least accurate among all 1A teams in field goal shooting, 3-point shooting and free-throw shooting.  

Their top four scorers in Ryder Kozisek, Avery Clifford, Wyatt Daly-Patterson and Hyson Hill graduated

Paul Stone, a senior, is the team’s only returning starter; he averaged 4.4 points per game as a junior.

Seniors Brendan Powell and Mason Brown, juniors Gavyn Cervantes and Eli Jensen and sophomore Kenneth McClure are expected to join Stone as foundational varsity players, according to Winters..

“There are several other guys who have shown a lot of improvement and who will need to step up and give us some varsity minutes as well,” Winters said.

When asked to size up his team, Winters said, “The biggest strength this group has is being great teammates and making the extra pass. They play for each other and are more interested in team accomplishments than individual accolades. 

“Weaknesses would be shooting and rebounding. We have capable shooters that just need to get some more shots up before and after practice to be more consistent. For rebounding I think they’re just used to other guys being more aggressive going for rebounds so it’s just about being disciplined in getting in there and trying to pursue every rebound.”

The Rebels will open the season later this week in Upton, with games against Hulett and Custer, Mont., Friday before closing with a matchup against the host Bobcats on SAturday.

“The biggest thing I want to gain out of these games is get some continuity and cohesion as a team and see guys step up to play their different roles,” Winters said. “Upton is always one of the top teams in the state so it’s always good to face them and see where we stand compared to them.

“I don’t know too much about Hulett other than they have some athletic boys and competed well at football. I don’t know anything about Custer so it’s always fun to face a team that you’ve never seen before.”