Just two weeks after a matchup in the Chick-Fil-A Classic tournament, crosstown rivals Lexington and River Bluff met again.

This time, it was at Wildcat Gymnasium. The result was the same, however, as the Wildcats came out on top 71-52. 

The girls’ varsity team got in on the action this week as well, beating the Lady Gators 63-33.

The Lady Wildcats drew fouls early by attacking the basket and creating scoring opportunities. The Lady Gators were scoreless for half of the first period, notching their first basket on a Jaden Tucker layup at the 4:26 mark that drew a foul. 

The Lady Wildcats continued to get easy points through ball control and some extra passes inside, but River Bluff kept it close through much of the second period by scoring in transition and beating Lexington back down the court. 

The Lady Gators closed the gap to 23-19 with 3 minutes in the half, but that was as close as they would come. An 8-0 run extended the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 31-19 at the half

In the second half, their foul shooting and a few timely 3-pointers were the difference. Lindsay Garner was the high scorer and the Rush’s Sonic Friday Night Rivals Player of the Game for Lexington (13-5, 2-0) with 25 points, while Jaden Tucker finished with 11 for River Bluff (10-7, 1-1) 

In the boys varsity matchup, the Wildcats jumped to an early lead by getting penetration inside for quick, easy points. The Gators countered with 3-pointers and drawing fouls to get within 18-14 at the end of the first period. 

Lexington (11-6, 2-0) pulled away for a 34-21 halftime score despite a lack of offense from Cam Scott, who finished the game with only six points off two free throws and two shots from the field. His main contributions were on the defensive boards, but he fouled out in the last two minutes of the game. 

The Wildcats maintained a lead of up to 20 points throughout the second half, using ball movement and relentless defensive pressure to keep the Gators from gaining any kind of offensive momentum.

Jaxon Prunty took up the scoring mantle for this game. He surpassed his season-high with the Wildcats with 25 points to earn Sonic Friday Night Rivals Player of the Game honors.

Kaleb Evans contributed 19 and Jose Figueroa added 10 in the win.

Omari Caldwell was the leading scorer for River Bluff with 13 points.

Lexington will play host to White Knoll in their next region game Jan. 17.