The Riverside (Leesburg, VA) varsity basketball team will play a neutral non-conference game against Parkside (Washington, DC) today at 3:30 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Washington, DC High School Basketball
Who: Parkside vs Riverside
When: Friday, December 27, 2024
Time: 3:30. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game Preview: Parkside vs Riverside

As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season progresses, two standout teams from Washington, DC, and Virginia have caught the attention of local fans and analysts: Parkside and Riverside. The two teams have shown notable performances on both sides of the ball, with Parkside fighting for consistency in its early season and Riverside dominating its competition.

Team Overview

Parkside High School (DC)

• Record: 2-3 overall, 0-1 in league play
• Offensive Average: 64.6 points per game
• Defensive Average: 67.8 points allowed per game

Parkside’s early record has been a mix of highs and lows. While the team has yet to find a consistent rhythm, they show potential, particularly in their offensive output. With an average of 64.6 points per game, they have demonstrated the ability to score across all four quarters. However, they have struggled defensively, allowing 67.8 points per game.

Parkside’s offensive production is spread fairly evenly across quarters, with a slight uptick in scoring during the third quarter (16.8 points) compared to other periods. Despite their challenges on defense, they’ve shown resilience, especially in close matchups.

Key Player:

• Colby Murphy has been the standout performer for Parkside, averaging 33.7 points per game. His scoring ability makes him a constant threat for opposing teams.

Riverside High School (VA)

• Record: 8-1 overall, 0-0 in league play
• Offensive Average: 74.2 points per game
• Defensive Average: 62.2 points allowed per game

Riverside, on the other hand, has been a dominant force on the court. With a remarkable 8-1 record, including an undefeated home record (4-0), they’ve been one of the most consistent teams in the region. Riverside boasts an impressive 74.2 points per game, a reflection of their strong offensive game, with all players contributing to the scoring load.

While their offense is potent, Riverside’s defense is also worth noting. They’ve held opponents to an average of just 62.2 points per game, a solid indicator of their balanced approach to both ends of the floor.

Key Player:

• Mason Ridgeway leads Riverside with 17.2 points per game, while Joell Basue contributes 6.7 rebounds per game, and Josh Ntiamoah averages 5.7 assists per game.

Head-to-Head Comparison

When comparing the two teams’ statistics, Riverside comes out on top in nearly every category.

• Points Per Game: Riverside averages 74.2 points, while Parkside averages 64.6 points.
• Rebounds: Parkside has not posted any official rebound statistics, but Riverside averages 31.1 rebounds per game.
• Assists: Riverside leads with 17.1 assists per game, while Parkside’s total is not specified but can be inferred as less.
• Steals: Riverside edges Parkside here as well, with 10.9 steals per game compared to Parkside’s 2.6.
• Blocks: Parkside has a slight advantage in blocking with 2.2 blocks per game, compared to Riverside’s 2.2.

Key Insights

Parkside’s focus remains on improving consistency, especially defensively. The team has struggled in away games, posting a 0-3 record in that category. Their overall win percentage of .400 is a clear indication that they need to tighten up their defense and reduce turnovers.

In contrast, Riverside’s impressive record is highlighted by their offensive firepower and a balanced defense. They have proven to be equally strong at home and on the road, with a stellar 4-0 mark at home and an overall win percentage of .889.

Riverside’s balance between offense and defense makes them a formidable opponent, while Parkside’s reliance on individual performances, especially from Colby Murphy, has yet to produce consistent team success.

Conclusion

As the season progresses, both teams will have opportunities to adjust and improve. Parkside needs to focus on enhancing its defense and finding ways to convert their scoring into victories, particularly against stronger opponents. Riverside, with its more balanced attack, will look to continue its dominant performance as it heads into tougher matchups. Whether Parkside can disrupt Riverside’s dominance or if Riverside will maintain its winning form will be an exciting subplot to follow in the coming weeks.