After a near-miss in 2014 against Zillah in the 1A state regional round, Riverside coach K.C. Ahrens was sure he had the recipe in 2015 to knock off the top-ranked and defending state champion Leopards and earn the Rams first state trip since 2006.
But that recipe for success was going to need a large dose of point guard Tyler Axtell.
That didn't happen Saturday as Zillah's physical guard play stifled Axtell, limiting him to 9 points on two of 12 shooting, making
sure Ahrens' recipe didn't come together and the Leopards defeated the Rams, 76-49 at Sunnyside High School.
The loss ends Riverside's season at 18-7 and one game short of Yakima for the second straight season.
"They mauled us," Ahrens said. "We simply didn't respond to what they did."
Ahrens that Zillah didn't do anything he hadn't seen on film, the Leopards were simply able to exert their will on his team.
After an even first period, Zillah closed out the first half on a 10-2 run over the final 3:39 and went into halftime with a 28-16 lead.
Jared Ellis, Justin Dinsmore and Trey Delp hit early 3-pointers for Zillah in the second half and suddenly Riverside was facing a 43-20 deficit and without answers.