Unrivaled: Rickea Jackson returns, boosting Breeze to big win

Unrivaled is all about 3×3 basketball, but even within those parameters, it’s never just about the sport.

Rickea Jackson recently missed Unrivaled play for personal reasons. Her ex-boyfriend was arrested after an alleged domestic violence dispute involving Jackson. Obviously, such a serious situation takes precedence over a game, and Jackson took the time she needed away from Unrivaled.

On Saturday, she returned and shined brighter than ever before. Jackson started for Breeze and was crucial to the team’s 77-56 win over Vinyl. Jackson finished the game with 22 points on 9-for-18 shooting. She also had three assists.

From the beginning of the game, Jackson was all smiles and ready to make an impact.

Early on, she played aggressive defense on the perimeter, defending multiple positions. Her first make was a 3 at the 2:56 mark to even the game at 10. Jackson immediately scored again with a pull-up jumper, and it looked like she hadn’t missed a beat.

In the second quarter, Jackson had a great shift to end the period. Paige Bueckers was feeding her the ball, and she was knocking down outside shots, driving hard to the paint, finishing with authority and cleaning up the glass.

At the half, Breeze was in front 47-35 and in complete control. That dominance was not relinquished in the third quarter. Jackson scored the six points for Breeze in the period with back-to-back 3-pointers.

With Vinyl struggling to score, Breeze continued to increase the gap between the two teams. By the end of the quarter, Breeze was leading by a dozen. In the fourth, Breeze put Vinyl out of their misery quickly. They won the fourth 11-2 in under three minutes to earn the win and get back to .500; they are 6-6 and in fourth place in the standings.

While Jackson was superb, Bueckers matched her excellence. The Player of the Game had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Dominque Malonga was the other Breeze player who scored in double figures on Friday night. She had 13 points and nine rebounds.

In the loss, Vinyl got a productive game from Rae Burrell, who scored 24 points. Dearica Hamby had nine points and 13 rebounds and Erica Wheeler finished the contest with 19 points. Vinyl falls to 4-8, barely hanging onto sixth place and the final playoff spot.

Lunar Owls suffer miserable loss to Mist

This deep into the year, teams are what their record states.

Lunar Owls got blown out 92-73 by Mist, and they now sit alone at the bottom of the Unrivaled standings. With a 3-9 record, however, they are still alive for a playoff spot. But based on their poor performance, it’s clear that even if they somehow squeak into the postseason, it’ll be an early exit.

Against Mist, Lunar Owls were obliterated.

Mist jumped out to a 22-7 lead in the first. For a brief moment in the second quarter, the Lunar Owls showed some signs of fight. The trio Skylar Diggins, Aaliyah Edwards and Rebecca Allen went on a 16-2 run, giving them a brief lead.

However, Breanna Stewart plays for the Mist and took over. She scored six-straight points to give her team back control, and from that point, they never let it go. Stewart stayed hot to start the third quarter, and Arike Ogunbowale added her explosive offense to the mix, and their advantage was back in the double figures.

To start the fourth, Mist were ahead by 15. Allisha Gray and Ogunbowale hit back-to-back 3s, and after a gorgeous finger roll by Ogunbowale, Mist had 88 points. Then Stewart converted on a layup off an assist from Ogunbowale, and she finished the game off with a stepback basket.

Gray was named Player of the Game as she had a game-high 37 points and missed only five shots in this contest. Stewart scored 31 and had 13 rebounds. Ogunbowale scored just 11 points, but they were momentum shifters.

For the Lunar Owls, Marina Mabrey and Diggins had 15 points each.