Riordan Rolls Past Lancers in WCAL Opener
The Crusaders returned from a three-week layoff in style.
If there were any concerns that the Riordan Crusaders would come out rusty after a three-week layoff, they shut them down in an instant.
Playing their first game in 23 days, the Crusaders used an early 25-2 run to take control and cruised to an 88-40 road victory over the St. Francis Lancers to open WCAL play.
“I like what the guys did today,” head coach Joey Curtin said. “Next is just making tweaks in the rotation.”
Tuesday’s victory marked the Riordan debuts of Serbian transfer Dorde Curcic and Priory transfer Ryder Bush, with Curcic in the starting lineup and Bush in the first rotations off the bench.
Curtin has still yet to have his full team at his disposal. Nathan Tshamala, who started as a junior, is recovering from a knee injury, while transfer paperwork is still being sorted out for another Priory transfer, 6-foot-10 Nes Emeneke.
Riordan (5-3, 1-0 WCAL) turned the ball over on the opening possession and allowed a basket to Max Haberlach before scoring the next 15 points, then scored another 10 after allowing a putback to 6-foot-10 junior center Alex Gklaros-Stavropoulos.
Sophomore Evan Lee hit back-to-back threes to get St. Francis (2-9, 0-1) back within 15 at the end of the first quarter, but the Crusaders led 45-24 at halftime and ensured the game would finish with a running clock after outscoring the hosts 28-9 in the third.
Curcic scored eight points on a pair of threes and a putback, while Bush scored four and dished out five assists. Saint Mary’s commit Zion Sensley and Eastern Washington commit Jordy McKenzie shared high scoring honors for Riordan with 14 points apiece, with Sensley delivering the highlight of the night on a windmill dunk to make it 63-28 in the third. Sophomore point guard Andrew Hilman, who had 11 points and six assists, threw down a two-handed hammer moments later.
Jasir Rencher finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Evansville commit Kaia Berridge scored 10 and John Tofi Jr., a new insertion in the starting lineup, added eight.
Chris Verceles led the Lancers with 11 points, doing all of his scoring in the second quarter.
While most of their WCAL counterparts had played all 10 of their nonleague games already, Riordan had played just seven, and none since concluding the Gridley Invitational with a win over Clovis North on Dec. 9. With their transfers now eligible, save for Emeneke, they’ll have 17 games with the full team before the postseason.
Riordan hosts St. Ignatius (9-1) on Thursday before traveling to play in the Coastal Catholic Classic on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena against Nevada power Bishop Gorman (12-2).
St. Francis will play four straight games on the road, starting Thursday at Valley Christian (8-2).