Riverdale Baptist Loses in National High School Invitational Championship to Seton Keough, 44-42

Riverdale Baptist's players sat dejected, stunned almost, as they looked over and saw a bouncing huddle of Seton Keough (Baltimore) players celebrating an improbable come-from-behind victory in yesterday's National High School Invitational championship game at Georgetown Prep. Stunned because the Crusaders, ranked No. 1 in The Post and No. 7 in the nation at season's end, led by 13 early in the third and were dominating offensively. Improbable because Riverdale sent Seton Keough's best player -- 6-foot-4 West Virginia-bound center Asya Bussie -- to the bench with her fourth foul less than two minutes after halftime.

But as Seton Keough Coach Jackie Boswell described it, "the fourth quarter was all heart," as the Gators, ranked No. 1 in the Baltimore Sun, held Riverdale to five points in the final quarter of a 44-42 victory.

Katelyn Fischer's three-pointer with three minutes remaining gave Seton Keough its first lead, and the Gators were still up one with 18 seconds left. Riverdale's Rahneeka Saunders missed a jumper, and the Crusaders couldn't convert on three more tries off the rebound.

"Basketball is a game of runs, of momentum," said Riverdale Coach Gina Miller, whose team scored just 12 points over the final two quarters and saw a 19-game winning streak snapped. "It seemed like we were stuck on 36 for ages. We just didn't have any offense in the second half."

Junior forward Tierra Hawkins led Riverdale (26-3) with 16 points, including 13 in the first half, when she posted up her defender, called for the ball with her hand up, and converted. Riverdale led 30-21 at the break.

In the second half, however, Seton (25-8) did a better job of double-teaming Hawkins, and she was held to three points. Her sister, Maryland-bound forward Tianna, chipped in 13 points and 16 rebounds, and junior Ulyssia Richmond added nine points.

Trailing 37-29 entering the final quarter, Seton Keough closed the gap on back-to-back baskets (one a three-pointer) from sophomore guard Amber Singletary (team-high 13 points), and by the six-minute mark the Gators were within three. Bussie (seven points, five rebounds) re-entered the game in the fourth quarter and scored a key basket on a putback. And 6-4 sophomore Liz Brown was a menacing defender, blocking five shots while adding 10 points.

"In the huddle we talked about taking it one basket at a time," Singletary said. "Rotating it around, we got Asya some touches and I just did what I'm supposed to do."

Riverdale's Tianna Hawkins, Tierra Hawkins and Candace Bond were named to the all-tournament team.

"I'm going to miss my teammates," said Tianna Hawkins, on playing in her last game. "I have many great memories."

Findlay Boys Prevail

In a battle of the nation's top-ranked teams, No. 2-ranked Findlay Prep (Nev.) held off a late charge from No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and won the boys' title, 74-66. Oak Hill trailed by 15 entering the fourth quarter but pulled within five with two minutes remaining.

Senior Avery Bradley (Texas) led Findlay with 20 points, and fellow Texas recruit Tristan Thompson had 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Pilots (33-0) went on a 13-4 run late in the third quarter. Pe'Shon Howard scored 19 to lead Oak Hill (40-1).

Girls' Box Score, D8