Riverton Parke runs into top-ranked Bloomfield, Blake Neill at Gobbler Games

Riverton Parke had the unenviable task of facing preseason Class A, No. 1 Bloomfield in its season opener Saturday at the Gobbler Games at Greencastle High School.

Senior Blake Neill, a preseason Mr. Basketball candidate, opened his campaign with 40 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals in a 72-28 victory over the Panthers.

Bloomfield jumped out to a 20-7 lead after one quarter and extended that to 39-11 at halftime.

Neill, a six-foot, six-inch wing, teamed with 6-6 center Owen Medina to help limit Riverton Parke to a total of eight shot attempts in three of the four quarters. The Panthers finished 1 of 14 from the 3-point arc.

Collett Sanders and Dane Mullinix led Riverton Parke with six points each. Mullinix had a team-high four rebounds. Boston Sciotto hit the Panthers’ only 3 and finished with five points.

Riverton Parke is at South Vermillion (0-1) Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the second semifinal game of the Banks of the Wabash Classic.