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Austin grad Buai Duop has risen to a bigger role with the Riverland Community College men’s basketball team, but the Blue Devils are still locked in on winning.

Duop only had to play limited minutes as Riverland showed off its depth in a 106-69 win over Waldorf JV in Riverland Gym Wednesday.

Without playing much in the second half due to the score being lopsided, Duop finished with 10 points and four rebounds. Still, it was another night of him growing more comfortable as a go-to scorer.

“Last year I was behind (All-American) Savier McCall and playing under his wing as a freshman, he really guided me and showed me what to do,” Duop said. “I knew the ball wasn’t going to be coming to me all of the time, so I had to rebound and do other things. Now with him not being here, I’m the next guy up. I’m doing whatever I can to help the team out.”

The Blue Devils (3-0 overall) also received a big boost from sophomore Demar Jenkins, who is from Mayowood, Illinois. Jenkins came off the bench and delivered a highlight reel as he hit step-back jump shots and was explosive towards the rim in racking up 20 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists as the team’s sixth man.

“Whatever really benefits the team is good with me. I know how to come in and contribute when I’m not starting. I like it and coach tells me what to do and how to do it,” Jenkins said. “We’re a family over here. If you aren’t about the team and the family, this isn’t the program for you. Everybody fits in well.”

RCC had 14 players score in the win as Blooming Prairie grad Zack Hein had three points and his twin brother Gabe Hein had two points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

Nazih Chehade, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, was also effective with 13 points and five rebounds.
“We’ve been playing some games where we’ve had the upper hand, so we’ve been saving some legs,” RCC head coach Derek Hahn said. “We’ve got a couple of big games this weekend and we’ve got those guys ready to go. It’s also good to see what all of our guys can do in game situations. We’ve got a couple of guys that are good with the vocal side of it. There are a few guys that are stepping up in that way and we have multiple voices in the huddle and that’s good to see.”

Waldorf 28  41  –  69

RCC 52  54  –  106

RCC scoring: Damar Jenkins, 20; Christian Campbell, 15; Nazih Chehade, 13; Buai Duop, 10; Cory Marshall, 9; Jose Yepez, 8; Rolph Blanc, 7; Lubab Kambalo, 6; Jordan Gimenez, 3; Zach Hein, 3; Jency Davis, 3; Gabe Hein, 2; Eli Ocharo, 2; Marshall Baseman, 2