AHOSKIE – Senior Sarah Beth Green scored a game-high 21 points as the Ridgecroft Rams defeated Lawrence Academy Friday night.

The 72-29 win improves the Rams to 6-1 in the Tarheel Independent Conference and, combined with a Hobgood Academy loss, bolstered them to the top spot in the league.

&uot;It’s nice to be here now, but we have a long way to go,&uot; veteran Ridgecroft coach Doug Cobbs said of the development. &uot;We have some big game coming up.&uot;

Ridgecroft scored 11 straight points to start the first quarter.

Kendall Street’s basket with just over two minutes on the clock would be the Warriors only bucket of the quarter as the Rams took a 17-2 advantage.

&uot;We took away their inside game,&uot; Cobbs said.

&uot;They got away from their game and never got back to it.&uot;

The Rams continued to play tough defense in the second while Lawrence struggled to find an open man.

The Warriors got within 13 points but three Rams baskets down the final stretch sent Ridgecroft to the locker room at the half with a 31-11 lead.

Ridgecroft continued their dominance over the final two quarters.

Lawrence had difficulty getting back on defense and the Rams took advantage, shooting 51% from the floor. At the final whistle the Rams held a 72-29 victory.

Green had an outstanding night at both ends of the court, scoring 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Lauren Lilley scored 16 points, including eight in the final quarter, for the Rams.

Jodi White led the Warriors with nine points while Street netted eight.

The Warriors were held to just 22% shooting (12-of-54) on the night and committed 25 turnovers.

&uot;We played hard,&uot; said Warriors head coach Charlie Harden.

&uot;We’ll keep working and aiming toward doing the best we can.&uot;

In the night’s opening game, Ashton Mizelle led the junior varsity Warriors with 10 points as they knocked off Ridgecroft 23-19.

Caitlin Harrison scored 10 in the Rams loss.

Lady Rams (72): Sarah Beth Greene – 21, Lauren Lilley – 16, Jo Revelle Murray – 10, S. Northcott – 8, H. Bryant – 6, J. Bolton – 4, V. Brown – 4, A. Piland – 3

Lady Warriors (29): Jodi White – 9, K. Street – 8, L. Taylor – 5, J. Perry – 3, S. Gillam – 2, K. Gillam – 2