The snow is off the ground, school is back in session, and the race to determine the Big 8 Girls Basketball Regular Season Championship appears to be as wide open as ever.
The only thing that seems certain is Cedar Ridge will be right in the thick of it.
The Red Wolves defeated East Chapel Hill 42-27 on Tuesday night at Wildcats Gymnasium. Madison Wardlow paced all scorers with 18 points as the Red Wolves improved to 3-1 in the Big 8, 9-5 overall. Cedar Ridge is tied with Hillside for 2nd place in the conference. The two teams will meet Friday at Cedar Ridge.
Jacori Walton added five points for the Red Wolves, who led 19-9 at halftime and were never seriously challenged in the second half. Yolanda Simpson and Logan Woody also scored five points each for Cedar Ridge, who played for the first time since beating Southern Vance on December 21.
No East Chapel Hill player got in double figures. Kayla Characklis paced the Wildcats with nine points. The Red Wolves held East to only four field goals in the entire second half.
Cedar Ridge will travel to Warren County tonight. Last week’s game against Northern Durham was postponed because of winter weather. A makeup date has yet to be announced.
CEDAR RIDGE: Yolanda Simpson 5, Tori Dalehite 1, Logan Woody 5, Madison Wardlow 18, Taylin Jean 3, Natalia Paray 4, Jacori Walton 5, Brianna Torain 2, Grace Davies 3.
EAST CHAPEL HILL: Kayla Characklis 9, T’Kiyah Reeves 5, Alex Mauney 6, Grace Vincent 2, Katie Characklis 2, Shoshana Halev 2, Victoria Baldwin 1.