CHSAA HOOPS: Rice 56 – Xaverian 54

Before yesterday’s game against Xaverian, Rice coach Maurice Hicks decided that he needed to take drastic measures to get his team ready for the CHSAA playoffs.

So he benched three of the Raiders’ best players – Russell Robinson, Arturo Dubois and Steven Dyer.

“Those guys are our leaders,” Hicks said. “We need them for the playoffs, so today was about getting them motivated and focused again.”

It turned out that yesterday also was about showing just how deep Rice’s roster is, as its reserves played a key role in its 56-54 win over Xaverian (16-7, 8-4 CHSAA), which was led by Chris Taft’s 21 points.

In fact, the biggest points of the game, a pair of free throws with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, came from sophomore Denzel Barnes, who had barely stepped on the floor this season.

“I was happy not nervous,” said Barnes, who had just checked into the game for the Raiders (16-6, 9-3). “I’m a good free-throw shooter in practice.”

And in games, too. Although he said his nerves didn’t get to him, reality had set in.

“I was thinking, ‘What is everybody going to say if I miss this?’ ” said the sophomore, who finished with two points. “This was a big step for all of us.”

Because now Hicks knows that he can go deeper into his bench than he thought – including senior Wesley Boone. Shagari Alleyne held up well against Taft, finishing with 13 points after playing nearly the entire a game.

“All this can do is help us,” said Hicks, who seemed happier after this win than he has virtually all season. “Our team was so good last year guys came off the bench who were just as good.”

Boone showed that yesterday, finishing with nine points, while getting his most minutes in his two years on varsity.

“At times I thought about quitting, but I love basketball,” said Boone. “I always knew I had it in me, but I didn’t have time to show coach.”