Winless streak continues for Rebels

The Riverside Rebels are still on the hunt for their first win after coming up empty against a pair of conference opponents last weekend.

Riverside fell to Ten Sleep, 59-57, Friday and to St. Stephens, 87-65, Saturday.

Coach Scott Winters described the two-point loss to the Pioneers as a tough one, especially considering the “heart and energy” shown by his players.

“We had the lead the whole game and just let it slip away at the end,” Winters said. “There were a lot of missed opportunities and mistakes that we made and unfortunately it cost us the game.”

Winters said his team played well defensively early, but “got a little too tired toward the end” and “wasn’t able to get the stops we needed.”

Eli Jensen paced the Rebels with 18, followed by Brendan Powell with 17.

Winters saw several positives in his team’s play against St. Stephens — foremost among them, the way it attacked the basket and handled the Eagles’ press — but just got outshot.

One St. Stephens player hit nine 3-pointers on his own.

“That was the difference in the game,” Winters said.

Powell scored 13, Paul Stone 12 and Jensen and McClure 10 each in the losing effort for Riverside.

“It was frustrating to have two conference home losses to start conference play against teams we are capable of beating, but we feel like we match up well against both teams and we just have to continue to grow and make adjustments and maybe get a different outcome next time we play,” Winters said.

Ten Sleep   8 10 15 17 — 59

Riverside 12 14 14 10 — 57

RIVERSIDE — Brendan Powell 7 1-4 17, Kenneth McClure 3 2-4 8, Paul Stone 2 1-1 5, Jaxon Womack 1 0-0 2, Gavyn Cervantes 0 3-4 3, Xander Dannar 2 0-0 4, Eli Jensen 5 4-5 18.  Totals 20-of-79 11-of-19 57.

3-POINT GOALS — Jensen 4, Powell 2.  REBOUNDS — Riverside 38 (Powell 12).  STEALS — Riverside 16 (Womack 4).  ASSISTS — Riverside 8 (Cervantes 3).  TURNOVERS — Riverside 19.

St. Stephens 23 24 18 22 — 87

Riverside 18 13 16 18 — 65

RIVERSIDE — Powell 3 5-12 13, McClure 4 1-3 10, Stone 6 0-0 12, Womack 0 1-2 1, Cervantes 3 4-6 12, Dannar 2 3-6 7, Jensen 3 3-4 10. Totals 21-of-69 (FGs) 17-of-33 (FTs) 65.

3-POINT GOALS — Powell 2, Cervantes 2, McClure, Jensen.  REBOUNDS — Riverside 46 (Powell, Stone, Cervantes 8).  STEALS — Riverside 12  (Cervantes, Powell 3). ASSISTS — Riverside 7 (Cervantes 3). TURNOVERS — Riverside 24.