The Riverside Girls Basketball team extended their winning streak to five games with a 48-32 road victory at AHSTW. The Bulldogs let from the get-go and never looked back. Riverside relied on leading scorer, Junior Sydney Somer’s dominance in the post from both a rebounding and scoring standpoint with a 24-point effort. Despite some early foul trouble in the first half for the Bulldogs, they were able to utilize the depth of their bench and overcome the adversity necessary to keep a steady lead on AHSTW throughout the game.

It was the second night of a back-to-back for AHSTW with a talented Riverside team on the other bench. That didn’t slow down AHSTW Guard Bella Lamp as she hit two field goals right out of the gate including a three-pointer to give the Lady Vikes an early lead. That advantage didn’t last long as Riverside’s Karlie Miller answered back with a three of her own to get the Bulldogs on the board. The stifling defense came out for Riverside as the first quarter progressed. Riverside started attacking inside the paint with Somers who was doing whatever she wanted near the basket. The Junior Center ended her first quarter with seven points including an and one. After the first quarter, Riverside had a 15-6 lead.

The outside shooting warmed up for AHSTW early into the second quarter as they hit three threes from Ava Paulsen, Bella Lamp and Macey Goshorn. This led to a Bulldog timeout but the other post on Riverside’s team, Lilli Reed stepped up with two big baskets down low to kill the AHSTW momentum. The Lady Vikes did make the adjustments after the first quarter and began defending the perimeter much tighter as well as clogging the paint forcing Riverside to dance around the lane. A better effort for AHSTW in the second, but Riverside still led 26-19 at half.

In the third quarter, Riverside’s defense clamped down on AHSTW’s offensive forcing consecutive turnovers multiple times. Somers got back into a rhythm down low making herself a presence in the paint, and the Lady Vikes didn’t have much of an answer. Somers scored six points on three field goals in the third and took a 36-24 lead into the fourth quarter.

Somers continued to be next to impossible to stop on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter as she was posting up and scoring while forcing AHSTW offensive turnovers. On the bright side, for the Lady Vikes offense Bella Lamp hit two more jumpers including her fourth three pointer of the night. Riverside extended their winning streak to five games while AHSTW dropped to 3-4. The Bulldogs came out with the 48-32 road victory.

Head Coach Mark Jeppeson says the depth of the bench is massive when foul trouble appears.

Sometimes the plan isn’t executed perfectly but it’s the in-game adjustments that matter for the Bulldogs according to Jeppeson.

Junior Center Sydney Somers says ball movement and aggressive defense have been focus points lately.

Jepperson says team chemistry is extremely present due to the amount of time this group spends together.

Riverside returns to the floor Thursday in a road contest at East Mills while AHSTW plays Friday in Missouri Valley.