West Catholic Ends Riverside’s Season in Elite 8 Matchup, 55-41
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | March 16, 2025 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus Photograpghy
March 15, 2025 – Riverside’s impressive season came to an end in the Elite 8 as they fell to West Catholic, 55-41. Despite a hard-fought effort, Riverside couldn’t overcome West Catholic’s balanced scoring and strong defensive play.
West Catholic jumped out to a 12-8 lead in the first quarter and maintained control throughout the game. While Riverside kept things competitive, West Catholic’s 20-point fourth quarter proved to be the difference.
Eric Scott led West Catholic with 12 points, including a three-pointer, while Jayvon Byrd added 8 points. Kingston Wheatley (9 points) and Rahmir Speaks (9 points, three three-pointers) also played key roles in the victory.
For Riverside, Connor McNally had a strong performance, scoring a game-high 15 points and going 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. Nico Antoniacci contributed 10 points, including a three-pointer, while Brayden Rose added 7. Riverside shot 9-for-12 from the free-throw line but struggled from beyond the arc, making just two three-pointers.
West Catholic’s ability to knock down six three-pointers and hold Riverside to just 41 total points played a crucial role in the outcome.
Despite the loss, Riverside’s season was a success, highlighted by winning the 3A District Championship. Their deep postseason run solidified them as one of the top teams in the state, capping off a memorable campaign.
