2A State Girls Semifinal in Manhattan on Friday, March 9th 

The Riverside girls continued to make history in their first-ever state tournament appearance as they mounted an 18-point comeback in the second half to knock off previously unbeaten and number one ranked Pittsburg Colgan 45-42 in overtime. The win puts the Lady Cyclones and first-year Coach Craig Burnes in the championship game on Saturday night against Berean Academy. 

Trailing 36-22 entering the fourth quarter when not much had gone right all night, Riverside erupted on a quick 8-0 run sparked by three-pointers from Niahla Duncan and Halle Studer. Colgan, who shortly there after had two key players foul out in the fourth frame felt the pressure, something that hadn't experienced all year after winning every game by double-digits to get to 23-0 by an average score of 62-26. Riverside turned up the pressure and Pitt Colgan committed 18 of their 22 turnovers in the second half.

Riverside led 2-0 and then didn't take back the lead until 38-36 with a few minutes left on the heels of an amazing 16-2 run. Both teams missed a couple free throws and had a turnover in the final minute of regulation. The game went to overtime at 40 and Duncan hit a big trey to give the Cyclones the lead for  good as both teams made just one field goal in the extra session, but Riverside got the triple and then connected on 2 of 6 foul shots to secure the victory. 

Duncan was a fabulous freshman that finished with 14 points while Taylor Weishaar posted 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals and Halle Studer scored all six of her points in the fourth frame and OT. Sophie Juhl added 5 points as well as 4 rebounds and steals as Riverside improved to 22-3 on the season. The 18-4 fourth quarter followed a 18-3 fourth stanza in their first round win against Wichita Independent. 

For the first three quarters and especially the initial half however, not much was going right for the Cyclones who trailed 10-2 and then 25-14 at intermission when they had made just 1 of 6 foul shots and turned the ball over 10 times. It got worse in the third as Colgan stretched the lead to 18 points.

However, the Panthers only had three players score in regulation and two of them fouled out in the fourth quarter. Lily Brown finished with 21 points but did not make a single field goal after the third quarter and missed a potential trying three-pointers at the end of the contest. Colgan falls to 23-1 and will play Hillsboro for third place on Saturday. 

Riverside, who has remained so even keel like their coach Craig Burnes, will continue their historic first state season with poise and confidence as they battle Berean Academy for the 2A Championship at 6:15 PM on Saturday. Live coverage on KNZA 103.9 FM and www.mscsports.net.