AHOSKIE – Three tries – three titles.

Ridgecroft School continued their domination of the junior varsity girls portion of the Lt. Nick Brantley Scholarship Tournament here Friday night. The Lady Rams won their third straight title in the short three-year history of the tournament which is sponsored by United Country Joe Murray Realty and the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald.

Emily Grace and Ruthie Daniels each scored in double figures for the Lady Rams who topped Pungo Christian Academy 33-28.  The Raiders were led by Gibson Armstrong and Dana Woolard.

The early going made it look like the lock on the tournament title would disappear as PCA led 6-2 early and 11-6 after one quarter.

Taylor Mann and Armstrong had back-to-back hoops to start the game before Grace scored for the Rams. Mann and Daniels then exchanged hoops before the Raiders rolled off five straight.

Woolard had three points on that spurt while Armstrong had the other two.

Daniels, however, scored to close the quarter and get the Rams within five (11-6).

Neither team found the net much in the second quarter. Ridgecroft got hoops from Kathryn Outlaw and Caroline Edwards, but PCA answered with a three-point play from Woolard.

Before heading into the intermission, however, Grace buried a three-pointer to get the Lady Rams within 14-13.

Daniels opened the second half with back-to-back scores as Ridgecroft took the lead for the first time.  The Raiders kept it close thanks to buckets by Armstrong and Macy Morgan, but Ridgecroft built a four-point lead thanks to a free throw from Daniels and a Grace score.

Armstrong closed the quarter, however, with a bucket that got PCA within 22-20.

Woolard tied the game with the first hoop of the fourth quarter, but Mackenzie Brown and Grace had consecutive scores to push Ridgecroft ahead by four (26-22).

Armstrong answered with a hoop, but then Ridgecroft got a bucket from Daniels and five unanswered from Grace as they built a 33-24 lead.

Armstrong and Woolard had back-to-back hoops to close the Raiders within five, but that was as close as they got.

Ridgecroft and Head Coach Susan Oliver held on to claim their third straight tournament title and improved to 2-0 for the young season.