Basketball Game Preview: Riverside Ram vs. Independence

Riverside is 7-1 against Independence since December of 2019 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Riverside Ram will take on Independence at 7:00 p.m. Riverside knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past eight matchups -- so hopefully Independence likes a good challenge.

Riverside will head into Tuesday's contest hoping to keep the good times rolling: they had to skate by with only a two-point margin when they last took the court, which might have inspired the 29-point drubbing they dealt Lightridge on Tuesday. Riverside took their game with ease, bagging an 87-58 victory over Lightridge. The Ram have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won five matches by 22 points or more this season.

Mason Ridgeway

Points

01/21/25 vs Lightridge	37
01/16/25 @ Potomac Falls	26
01/13/25 vs Briar Woods	17
01/10/25 vs Heritage	22
01/08/25 vs John Champe	19

Riverside can attribute much of their success to Mason Ridgeway, who went 6 for 10 from beyond the arc en route to 37 points along with five boards and three steals, and Max Lawson, who went 8 of 10 on his way to 22 points in addition to five assists and five rebounds. The contest was Ridgeway's eighth in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Josh Ntiamoah, who posted six points.

Riverside smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in nine consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Independence didn't have quite enough to beat Stone Bridge on Tuesday and fell 68-66.

Riverside pushed their record up to 15-1 with the win, which was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season. As for Independence, their loss dropped their record down to 3-12.

Riverside beat Independence 63-54 when the teams last played back in February of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for Riverside since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.