Riverdale seniors focused as Lady Warrior careers approach stretch run

It's getting down to crunch time on the 2017-18 Riverdale girls basketball season.

For Lady Warrior seniors, the end is near on what could finish as an unprecedented career at Riverdale.

With a handful of regular-season games left, Riverdale's seniors are focused on winning a third-consecutive Class AAA state championship. That's something that hasn't been done since the 1988-92 Shelbyville teams that won four in a row.

"It's definitely something we think about," said Riverdale senior Alexis Whittington. "Every day we go out and know it's going to be one of our last games (at Riverdale). We talk about it a lot. We want to make it the best we can."

Fellow senior Brinae Alexander said the top-ranked Lady Warriors were "focused" as the stretch run approaches. That focus was evident in an 80-50 win over fourth-ranked Stewarts Creek Friday at Johnny Parsley Gymnasium.

"It's all about having fun, but we also want to make the most of our last season - no letdowns," said Alexander, who scored 21 points in Friday's win.

Riverdale (21-1, 6-0 7-AAA) has been the favorite for a three-peat all season and talk began as early as the post-game interviews following its 2017 state title.

The team has just one blemish on its record - a loss to the nation's top-ranked team in California's Archbishop Mitty during the Nike Tournament of Champions. That broke a 53-game winning streak that dated back to February 2016, which is still the last time a Tennessee team defeated the Lady Warriors.

"Honestly, that took a little pressure off of us," said senior Amanda Whittington. "We never really worried about (the streak). We just played a game and came up short."

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Riverdale's seniors are far from playing their final stretch of basketball. Alexander has signed at Vanderbilt, the Whittington twins are MTSU signees and classmate Alli Mayeux is a Rhodes signee.

"We're all going to the next level and have an opportunity to keep playing, but it will be sad that we only have a few more games left (at Riverdale)," Alexander said. "We're going to make the most of every game."

Added Riverdale coach Randy Coffman, "There's a sense of urgency, but our kids have been in this situation the last couple of years. They amp up a little bit."

Aislynn Hayes added 20 points and Amanda Whittington 10 in Friday's win. Stewarts Creek (16-3, 5-2) was led by Jamya Rogers' 15 points.

Seventh-ranked Warriors roll: Riverdale's boys jumped out to a huge early lead and never looked back in a 60-40 win.

Elijah Cobb scored 20 points, including an alley-oop dunk, while Maliek McAllister added 12 for the Warriors (18-2, 5-1).

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.