Independence's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Monday after their third straight defeat. They fell 67-55 to Riverside. Having run the score up that high, both teams might be doing some extra defensive drills very soon.
Despite the loss, Independence still got an impressive performance from Dominic Mason, who scored 14 points. Mason is trending in the right direction, as he's improved his point production for four games straight. JJ Johnson was another key contributor, scoring nine points.
Riverside found their leader in underclassman Mason Ridgeway, who scored 18 points along with four steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Max Lawson, who scored 14 points.
Independence has not been sharp recently as the team's lost eight of their last ten games, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-11 record this season. As for Riverside, the win was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 11-8.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Independence has the luxury of staying home another game and will welcome the Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on February 2nd. Stone Bridge presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than the in Virginia (the Bulldogs are ranked 108th, while the are ranked 229th). As for Riverside, they will look to defend their home court on Friday against the Bolts at 7:15 p.m.