SEDALIA – Despite State Fair giving Three Rivers a run for their money late, the Raiders were able to hold on in the closing minutes to come away with a 71-62 win over the Roadrunners on Saturday. With the road win, Three Rivers clinched the third seed in the Region XVI standings behind Mineral Area and Moberly Area.

The Raiders were led offensively by Paul Green as he was one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards followed by Kinyon Hodges with 15 and Lamar Wilkerson with 12.

Three Rivers (16-10, 6-5 XVI) started the ballgame out with a 10-3 run in three minuets and they were able to keep the lead through halftime going into the break up 37-23.

The Raiders maintained their lead in the early stages of the second half up 48-31 with 15:06 to play, but the Roadrunners (14-12, 3-8 XVI) got back into the game with a 21-12 run to cut the Raider lead to 60-52 with 6:30 remaining.

Fortunately, Three Rivers was able to keep State Fair at bay in order to come away with an all-important region win.

The Raiders' next game will be the night cap of a women's and men's doubleheader against Mineral Area at the Libla Family Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republuc