By Mike Williams

Analyst

HOBGOOD – The Hobgood Academy girls had to hold off a late charge by the Ridgecroft Rams to escape with a 47-42  here Wednesday.

Both squads started extremely cold from the floor only exchanging free throws until Ridgecroft’s Lauren Colson scored inside at the 3:41 mark of the opening stanza for an early 4-3 Ram advantage.

Both teams then seemed to find the groove the remainder of the period with the Ram’s Miller Bryant’s basket giving them a 9-8 first period cushion.

In the second stanza, the Raider’s Schuyler Edmondson canned four straight free throws and reserve Demi Barwick added a bucket as the Raiders jumped to a 14-9 lead.

Ridgecroft closed the gap to 14-12 on a Bryant charity toss and a Sara Hackney field goal, but that would be the extent of the Ram scoring for the half as Hobgood then reeled off the next seven straight points on a pair of Edmondson baskets, a field goal by Katy Barnhill and free throws by Cassidy Roberson and Katelyn Whitehead to go the locker room up 21-12 at the half.

Morgan Medford’s basket inside in the first 30 seconds of the third quarter extended the Hobgood lead to 11 at 23-12, their largest of the night.

But Ridgecroft proved they were far from dead as they mounted a comeback ripping off six straight points on scores by Hennie Larabee, Colson and Hackney to close the Hobgood margin to five at 23-18.

However, the Rams would get no closer the remainder of the quarter as the teams traded baskets throughout with Hobgood leading 32-24 going into the final period.

The Raiders’ Katelyn Whitehead had a basket to push the Raider’s lead to 10 early in the final period ,but Ridgecroft’s Miller Bryant singlehandedly cut the advantage in half canning a three pointer and following up with a layup.

Morgan Medford had back-to-back field goals on a steal and layup and an inside follow shot, but back to back three pointers by Bryant and Brice Harrison suddenly had Ridgecroft back within three at 38-35 with 3:51 to play.

Hobgood then extended their lead back to nine on a pair of Whitehead free throws, but the Rams had one spurt left closing the margin to 44-42 with 19 seconds left on a Larabee basket and a pair of Colson free throws.

They were forced to foul and Edmondson and Medford were able to convert from the charity stripe for the final margin of victory.

Edmondson led the Hobgood scoring attack with 16 points including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. The Raiders were hampered by 27 turnovers, but benefited greatly from their bench play as the reserves combined for 14 points.

Bryant led the Ridgecroft attack with 11 points while Harrison added 10.

The Rams were greatly hampered by their performance in the free throw department where they were a dismal 5-of-23 on the night.

Hobgood out rebounded the Rams by a 36-27 count with Edmondson hauling down 13 and Morgan Medford nine. Lauren Colson had eight caroms for Ridgecroft.