Deep roster helps Riverdale to 6-0 start

The last time Riverdale's boys basketball team started the season 6-0 or better, the Rams had an average margin of victory of 27.24 points per game. That fast start came in 2022 when the Rams were 8-0 and were winning by 33.

43 points per game. This year’s Riverdale squad is off to a similar start. The Rams have taken advantage of a relatively weak schedule, beating opponents by an average of 25.



67 points and giving the 5-1 Galva Wildcats their only loss of the season back on Nov. 29. Their opponents' combined record is 14-24.

“Guys are working hard — we are a younger team (compared to last season), so it is nice to see the success and how we are growing and getting better,” Riverdale head coach Alex Kelly said. Riverdale is led by senior Brody Clark, who is averaging a Rams’ high 16.8 points per game on 51% shooting, along with 6.

3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Kelly stressed the youth of this roster compared to years past.

“Outside of Brody Clark, everyone else is inexperienced,” Kelly said. “We still play a couple of seniors (beyond Brody and Jacob Watson), but they either did not play much last year or the start of this year.” The Rams have five juniors, three sophomores and a freshman who make up 63% of Riverdale’s offense and 126 of the 186 minutes played.

Clark and Watson (8.5 ppg) are the lone seniors who are part of Kelly’s rotation. Of those nine players, sophomores Paxton Kiddoo and Jackson Tegeler have stood out.

“We have a couple of sophomores starting for us who started as freshmen last season, so it is good to see them take that next step in their basketball careers,” Kelly said. "Instead of averaging 4-5 points (per game), they are now averaging 8-10 ppg. This is the deepest I have gone as far as a team.

"I typically play 6-7 players, but right now we are playing 8-9 guys. It is nice to have that depth.” Kiddo is averaging 8.

8 ppg on 56.3% shooting in 24 minutes of action and is second on Rockridge with 4.3 assists per game.

Tegeler is averaging 8 points on 50% shooting in 21 minutes. “Paxton was our point guard last season — his role was kind of easy — just get the ball to (former Ram) Jake Willems, who averaged 25 ppg,” Kelly said. “This year, Paxton has to make sure that everybody gets their touches and gets to see the ball.

"Jackson Tegeler is another starter. He had some up-and-down games, but he is really now starting to find his stride, and his confidence seems to be really high. We are looking forward to seeing how he continues to grow.

” The Rams are coming off a 71-54 win over Monmouth-Roseville on Friday. Kelly was pleased with his team after committing 13 turnovers against a conference foe that plays a physical style. “(Monmouth-Roseville) has some strong kids.

They are one of those teams who makes you a little worried, especially if you have younger guys. They are going to out-physical us and push us around,” Kelly said. “Our guys did a good job of that.

I thought Paxton and (freshman) Colton Clark did a really good job of handling the pressure. We did not play our best in the first half, but in the second half, we showed what kind of team we are and what we can do.” The Rams face Rockridge (3-3) on Friday.

Kelly has great respect for coach Jordan Harris and his program. “Rockridge has a solid team. They have some great (senior) players, like (Caleb) Cunico, Landon Wheatley and Landon Bull,” Kelly said.

“Those three are staples for Rockridge, and I feel like I have been coaching against them for decades at this point. It is going to be a fun game, and playing at Rockridge is always tough. "Jordan does a great job of getting his guys ready to go.

I am hoping we show our best and they show their best. It is going to be a battle, for sure.”.