Lady Raiders run table in region; men lose at MAC

PARK HILLS — The Three Rivers College men’s and women’s basketball team closed out their egular seasons by splitting a doubleheader on Saturday at Mineral Area College.

The Lady Raiders won 74-72, while the Raiders lost 75-63.

The victory gives the Lady Raiders a 27-2 record and sustains a 19-game winning streak as they prepare for the Region XVI Tournament. Three Rivers was ranked second in the Feb. 24 NJCAA national poll.

More than that, with the win, the Lady Raiders finish Region XVI play with a perfect 12-0 mark.

Three Rivers led 19-14 after the first quarter but only held a one-point lead at the half, 39-38. Mineral Area led 54-52 after three, but the Lady Raiders outscored them 22-18 in the fourth for the two-point victory.

Brittani Wells led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 21 points. Joining her in double digits were Kaleigh Thompson with 18 points and Lexi Weaver with 14.

Three Rivers will host a Region XVI Tournament semifinal game at the Libla Family Sports Comples a week from Tuesday against the winner of the game between the fourth and fifth seeds.

On the men’s side, the Raiders finish the regular season 18-12 with a 7-5 record in Region XVI, giving them the second seed in the upcoming tournament. Three Rivers will once again try to beat Mineral Area, who they have gone 0-3 against this season, in the region semifinals this Friday.

Three Rivers trailed 41-23 at halftime, and although the Raiders outscored the Cardinals 40-34 in the second half, it wasn’t enough to overcome the first-half deficit.

Robert “Deuce” Alexander led the Raiders in scoring with 18 points, joined by Meechie White with 15 points and Matt Hampton with 14.

Three Rivers will try to make the fourth time a charm against Mineral Area this Friday, in the Region XVI semifinal at Jefferson College in Hillsboro.