SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PREP BASKETBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS : BOYS : Division V

Riverdale vs. Brethren Christian

SITE--Cypress College, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS--Riverdale (13-13), Brethren (23-7).

RIVERDALE--The eighth-seeded Cowboys finished 4-6 in the West Sierra League, but they won two Central Section playoff games before losing to Reedley Immanuel (21-5) in the final. Riverdale’s leading scorer is guard Efrain Solorio, a 5-10 junior who averages 16 points and 4.5 rebounds. Mike Roberts, a 6-3 junior forward, is the Cowboys’ second-leading scorer (13.5 points) and leading rebounder (10.0). Said Brethren Coach Richard Thomas of Riverdale, which is 30 miles south of Fresno: “From what I hear, they’re a bunch of big farm boys.”

BRETHREN CHRISTIAN--Top-seeded Brethren is coming off two emotional comeback victories, including Friday night’s 44-43 victory over Palos Verdes Chadwick in the Southern Section V-AA title game. The Warriors are led by Thomas’ son Scott, a 6-3 senior forward, who has hit game-winning shots in the last two games. Thomas averages 14 points and five rebounds. Forward Reggie Davis (11.8 points, eight rebounds) hasn’t been shooting well, but he has been doing everything else well.

KEY TO THE GAME--Brethren has fallen behind in its last two games due to long dry spells. But how many times can the Warriors keep rallying in the closing minutes?

CONSENSUS--Now that the pressure of winning a section title is off, expect Brethren to be more relaxed and more aggressive.