Riverside’s girls basketball team exploded past Springfield Catholic Central 81-63 on Saturday in a Division IV sectional tournament opener at Sidney.

The Pirates improve to 10-11 and advance to play Jackson Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Riverside’s Amelia Carter puts up a shot between a pair of Springfield Catholic Central players during Saturday’s Division IV sectional tournament game in Sidney. EXAMINER PHOTO | DOUG LOEHR

“It was a great win for us and we are looking forward to playing Jackson Center.”

Sara Emerich powered Riverside with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Brooklynn Purtee added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Amelia Carter tallied 11 points and nine rebounds.

“Sara had a great game inside,” said Sanford. “We fed her the ball and she took it to them.”

SCC led 15-14 after the opening period, but a scoring burst by Riverside soon changed the momentum. The Pirates outscored the Irish 26- 19 in the second quarter to jump ahead 40-34 at halftime.

Riverside maintained that momentum in the second half by outscoring the Irish 41-29 over the final two quarters.

A total of 11 Pirate players scored in Saturday’s win. Also aiding in the win were Brittany Shough with nine points and Kara Metz with eight points.

RIVERSIDE 81, SCC 63

RIVERSIDE (10-11) Purtee 6 0-0 13; Schindewolf 1 1-2 3; Snapp 3 1-2 7; Leiss 2 0-0 4; Metz 3 2-4 8; McGowen 1 0-0 2; Carter 5 1-1 11; Emerich 8 5-5 21; Shough 4 1-1 9; Jones 0 1-2 1; Jenkins 1 0-1 2. Totals: 34 12-18 81.
CATHOLIC CENTRAL (7-8) Maloney 1 0-1 2; Miller 5 2-7 13; Whalen 2 2-2 6; Johnsen 2 0-0 5; Woods 8 0-2 17; Williams 8 2-4 18; Garrott 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 6-16 63.

Pirates 14 26 17 24 — 81
Irish 15 19 12 17 — 63

Three pointers: Riverside 1 (Purtee); SCC 3 (Miller, Woods, Johnsen).
Rebounds: Purtee 10, Carter 9).
Assists: Riverside 17 (Emerich 4).
Steals: Riverside 11 (Metz 4).
Turnovers: Riverside 18.
Team fouls: Riverside 11; SCC 13.