Women’s game: Cedar Ridge 52, Durham School of the Arts 29: A fight between two players marred the end of the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball game against Durham School of the Arts on Monday night inside Red Wolves Gymnasium.
Cedar Ridge led 52-29 with 2:44 remaining in the fourth quarter when a Cedar Ridge player tied up a Durham School of the Arts player for a held ball. The DSA player slung the Red Wolves participant to the floor, across from the Cedar Ridge bench. The Cedar Ridge player got up and threw a punch, which led to several DSA players and a few parents running onto the floor. Most attempted to quell the situation, but one person from the DSA fan section ran straight for the Cedar Ridge player involved in the altercation, screaming at her. Red Wolves coach Megan Skouby and Cedar Ridge guard Cameron Copeland got in her way and the fan eventually left the gym with the player, who was presumably her daughter, accompanied by an Orange County deputy.
Another DSA guard, who started the game, had to be restrained from getting near the Cedar Ridge bench.
Larry Faucette, a retired Orange County deputy who has worked within Cedar Ridge’s athletic department for years, along with several Orange County deputies quickly brought peace to the situation. DSA players and coaches later left the gym through the main entrance, as opposed to locker room entrance on the other end of the gym, probably to prevent another possible altercation with a Cedar Ridge player.
The two players involved in the fracas were ejected. The referees said they would later review the game video to decide any further disciplinary action.
The game ended at that point with Cedar Ridge being declared the winner.
With 5:12 remaining in the third quarter, DSA’s Kaylen Mumford scored on a drive near the right baseline to cut Cedar Ridge’s lead to 24-23. The Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead, but Cedar Ridge’s Addie Reid stripped the ball bay from Shakari Vasquez. Amiyah Ware scored on a three-pointer in the right corner while getting fouled by Genesis Daniels. Ware completed the four-point play, which triggered a 28-6 run that carried the Red Wolves to the abbreviated victory.
Cedar Ridge (4-3) is off to its best start since the 2017-2018 season, which was the last time they made the 3A State Playoffs.
Ware and junior guard Sarah Utley each scored 15 points for the Red Wolves. Jamee Watson added nine points.
Men’s game: DSA 54, Cedar Ridge 48: Cedar Ridge was denied its first win of the season, largely because of DSA’s Darren Johnson.
Durham School of the Arts ended the game on a 7-0 run behind Johnson’s 26 points as the Bulldogs won on Monday night. The Red Wolves had a chance to take the lead in the final minute but was called for three seconds. Johnson made two free throws to stretch the Bulldog lead to 51-48 with :37.5 remaining. Cedar Ridge’s attempt to tie the game from beyond the arc in the waning seconds came up short.
Cedar Ridge guard Braeden Wilbourn knocked down a shot from outside to reduce the Bulldogs lead to 49-48 with 2:03 remaining.
Durham School of the Arts started the game on a 9-2 run off the hot hand of 6-foot-8 center Jadin Haynes, who drained a trio of 3-pointers in the opening minutes. The Red Wolves never led in the first half, but reduced the deficit to 24-21 at halftime behind six points from center Harrison Perel.
In the third quarter, DSA led 37-31 when the Red Wolves reeled off seven in a row to take the lead for the first time. Perel took a pass from Wilbourn and scored off a catch-and-shoot lay-in to start the spurt, followed by a three-pointer from Landon Dalehite. Corin Wingate but the Red Wolves into the lead for the first time with two free throws after he stole the ball at midcoast with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Harrison Perel led Cedar Ridge with 13 points. Wilbourn finished with eleven.
Haynes and Josiah Doresette added eleven points each for the Bulldogs.
Cedar Ridge (0-6) hosts Jordan-Matthews on Wednesday night at 7.