Riverview boys’ basketball team will be looking to jumpstart after Bickert’s ACL and MCL tears

The Riverview boys’ basketball team (8-5, 5-1) is still second from the top in Section 1-AA. However, the team notched a couple of tough losses last week and will be looking to turn things around tonight in a section game with Freeport.

Versus Springdale last Tuesday (January 17), the Raiders simply couldn’t close the gap. Riverview trailed by only a 24-19 deficit at the half, and became outscored in the third and fourth by a total of seven points. Jake Milberger recorded the game-high 18 points and Zack Stitt shot for 12. But Springdale had four different players posting scores in the double digits, whereas Riverview lost star senior guard Corey Bickert. According to a report in the Valley News Dispatch, Bickert tore the anterior and medial cruciate ligaments in his left knee. This happened during the second quarter when Bickert slipped and fell. The injuries will require surgery for repair, and Bickert’s rehab could take as long as a year.

Prior to last Tuesday, the Riverview team had seen Bickert be their clutch scorer. He dropped 30 points in the Raiders’ overtime 64-52 win over Shady Side, and before that Bickert was averaging 24 points.

Riverview posted another loss on Friday at Avonworth, although the differential was only 49-44. The Raiders will take the court tonight versus Freeport (7-5, 3-4), which is a team with some momentum (Freeport won at Springdale on Friday). Although the game will be tough for Riverview, a section win could help cement their sureness after losing Bickert and get the Raiders’ back on track.

Tip-off at Freeport tonight is at 7:30pm.