Semoball

Raiders vs. Mineral Area

Sunday, February 17, 2019
DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields

During a season in which it seems like not many things have gone right for Three Rivers, the Raiders still have a chance to come away with the third seed in Region XVI and host a region tournament game. Those chances received a huge boost Saturday with a momentous win. The Raiders trailed almost the entire way, erased a double-digit deficit in the second half and overcame a 34-point night from Steve Wooten to win 83-77 over the Cardinals. “Well, you know, biggest win of my life,” Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. “That’s as simple as I can put it. I have two great assistant coaches that had a great scouting report on Mineral Area and did everything we could do to get ourselves prepared.” With Saturday’s win, the Raiders secure at least the fourth seed in the region tournament, and they need Mineral Area to beat State Fair in the regular-season finale to claim the third spot and host a first-round game.