Cedar Ridge Women’s Basketball

There wasn’t any need for a big pep talk from Megan Skouby on the night of their Central Carolina Conference opener.

Her Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team still looked motivated enough against Person in Roxboro, where the bleachers spill right onto the edge of the floor and the gym gets very loud when it’s full. Despite the circumstances, Cedar Ridge convincingly defeated Person 58-27 on December 9.

It was only afterwards that Skouby learned something from Jeff Young, the father of guard Grace Young, that caused her to raise her eyebrows.

Cedar Ridge had just ended a 39-game conference losing streak. It was their first conference win since February 8, 2019, when the Red Wolves defeated East Chapel Hill 36-35 at Wildcats Gymnasium. In fact, back then Cedar Ridge played in the Big 8 Conference, as opposed to its current home, the Central Carolina Conference.

Overall, the Red Wolves ended a 19-game losing streak.

“I didn’t realize that until Jeff told me,” Skouby said. “I was like, ‘Oh. Well. Alright.’ I was pretty surprised but I’m happy we were able to win. Just trying to build a program back up year by year. It’s a good thing for us to get that win in the conference and we’re going to go from there.”

Guard Amiyah Ware, in her second game in a Cedar Ridge uniform, led the Red Wolves with 18 points. Freshman Jamee Rose Watson added 17 for Cedar Ridge (1-8, 1-1 in the Central Carolina Conference).

Ware, a junior, transferred from the Burlington School over the summer. She tore her ACL last spring and still plays with a brace on her right leg after six months of rehabilitation.

“Amiyah brings a calming presence to the team,” Skouby said. “She’s a great ball handler so it gives us that element that we really haven’t had before. She just knows the game so well that everyone kind of feeds off of her.”

For twin sisters Cierra and Cameron Copeland, it was a particularly gratifying win. Two years ago during the pandemic, basketball season started amid a cloud of uncertainty. Virtually no fans were permitted to attend games locally or in neighboring school districts. Games were often cancelled or moved with less than 24 hours notice.

Because of injuries, illness and player departures, Cedar Ridge barely had a women’s basketball squad in 2021. More often than not, they suited up only five players for games–the bare minimum allowed to field a team. Two of those players were Cierra and Cameron Copeland, who fought against the odds every night through an 0-8 season. If one of those five players fouled out, which happened several times, Cedar Ridge would be forced to play 5-on-4.

When Skouby, a former center at Iowa, took over the basketball team the following summer, her first job was simple: get more players.

She says, perhaps half-jokingly, that she’s relied on “harassment in the hallways.”

Sometimes, she’ll see a student of above average height walking down the hallways, point to them and, if she doesn’t know their names, say directly “You! You need to play basketball.”

Skouby, an assistant coach in volleyball, talked Young and Julie Altieri to play basketball shortly after the volleyball team won the 3A State Championship in the fall of 2021. When Young played against Durham School of the Arts in the 2021-2022 season opener, it was the first time she had played a basketball game since elementary school.

Some didn’t even have that much experience.

“I think a lot it has to do with the relationship I have with the kids,” Skouby said. “I’m able to joke, I’m able to keep that lightness. But I’m also serious about wanting them to get better everyday. The kids respect that. I have some kids in my science class and they come over and I talk to them.”

Her in-house recruiting efforts have paid dividends. For the first time in years, Cedar Ridge has a junior varsity team, as well as a varsity squad with 15 players.

“I think our confidence is getting better,” Skouby said. “We work everyday to try and make sure them to teach them that if you’re open, you have to shoot it. That’s the only way we can score. Before that, it was that game where they didn’t really want to shoot it because they didn’t want to be responsible Now, the kids realize that I’m not going to hold them responsible if they miss.”

At first glance, it’s an interesting time to take over a women’s basketball program. Northwood, who defeated Cedar Ridge on Friday, are the defending 3A State Champions.

Skouby isn’t living and dying with every win or loss right now. While she’s played in NCAA Tournament games and has been an assistant coach on a state championship volleyball squad, her focus isn’t purely on the scoreboard.

“I don’t really look too far into what our competition is going to be,” Skouby said. “I look in terms of what we can improve on each day. I tell them that I don’t always expect them to go out and beat the socks off of people. I expect them to go out and get better than the last game or the last practice.”

It wasn’t simply a win for the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team in Roxboro on Friday night. It was the end of a losing streak that spanned nearly four years. The Red Wolves defeated Person 50-27 at Rockets Gymnasium. It ended a 39-game conference losing streak for the Red Wolves. Junior Amiyah Ware, in his second game in a Cedar Ridge uniform, led Cedar Ridge with 18 points. James Rose Watson, also in her first year for the Red Wolves added 17 points as the Red Wolves ended a 19-game overall losing streak. It was Cedar Ridge’s first conference win since they defeated East Chapel Hill on February 8, 2019. It was a great birthday present for Cedar Ridge senior guard Grace Young, who turned 18 last Friday. She added seven points for Cedar Ridge. Ware, a transfer from the Burlington School, had to sit out the first six games of the year after she suffered a torn ACL last spring. It was a signature moment for seniors Cameron and Cierra Copeland, two players who were out paying two years ago in the pandemic when the Red Wolves often only suited up five players. Red Wolves head coach Megan Skouby has now built the Cedar Ridge program to a varsity squad with 15 players, along with a junior varsity team. Cedar Ridge will host the defending 3A State Champions, Northwood, on Friday night in Hillsborough.

Cedar Ridge’s Amiyah Ware, Jamee Rose Watson & Grace Young discuss win at Person

It wasn’t simply a win for the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team in Roxboro on Friday night. It was the end of a losing streak that spanned nearly four years. The Red Wolves defeated Person 50-27 at Rockets Gymnasium. It ended a 39-game conference losing streak for the Red Wolves.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior basketball guard Phoenix Smith. On December 6, Smith scored on a baseline shot with three seconds remaining off a feed from Julie Altieri to defeat Northern Durham 45-44. The victory ended a 26-game losing streak for the Red Wolves women’s basketball team. The following week, Cedar Ridge defeated Raleigh Charter 30-20, where Smith scored seven points. Even during the toughest of times, Smith has remained dedicated to Cedar Ridge basketball. Last winter, because of Covid and injuries, the team often only had five players. Smith was the starting point guard and went forward with games knowing she wouldn’t be substituted. This year, Smith was a member of the 3A State Championship volleyball team for Cedar Ridge. She walked under the spotlight at Reynolds Coliseum and was introduced in front of over 1,000 fans as the Red Wolves faced North Iredell in November. Smith is also a track and field runner in the spring. In addition, she is active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a three-sport athlete at Cedar Ridge.

It’s not even Christmas break yet and the season could already be considered a success for the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team. In just seven games, they have surpassed their win total from the previous two years combined. On Monday night, the Red Wolves defeated Raleigh Charter 30-20 at Red Wolves Arena. Sophomore twins Cameron and Cierra Copeland started for the Red Wolves. Last season, the Cedar Ridge women’s team only had five players for several games, but the Copelands were out there ready to play alongside Phoenix Smith, Anjelica Carbajal and Bryn Booker. After winning just one game in the previous two seasons, Cedar Ridge has won two already this season. Cameron Copeland had four rebounds for the Red Wolves in the victory over the Phoenix. The Red Wolves could easily have four wins at this point after close games against Voyager Academy and East Chapel Hill. On Tuesday night, Cedar Ridge will travel for a rematch against East Chapel Hill, which can be heard on Hillsboroughsports.com with Jon Franklin on the play-by-play.

DURHAM–It had been 724 days since Cedar Ridge women’s basketball’s last win. Anyone who followed the team knew that once they finally ended its losing streak, it would be a rich moment.

Once it arrived on Monday night, no one knew how dramatic or poetic it would be.

Senior guard Phoenix Smith knocked down a 3-foot baseline jumper off a feed from Julie Altieri with three seconds remaining to propel the Red Wolves past Northern Durham 45-44 at Poe Gymtorium on Monday night to end a 26-game losing streak. It was Cedar Ridge’s first win under new head coach Megan Skouby, a former University of Iowa center who joined the school last summer after serving as a coach at South Iredell.

Cedar Ridge’s last win came on December 12, 2019, when they defeated South Granville 44-29 in Hillsborough.

The Red Wolves, who led by ten points at the half, lost its lead in the final minute. Northern Durham (1-3) could have run out the clock to send the Red Wolves back to Hillsborough with another close loss, but the Knights were called for a 3-second violation with ten seconds remaining.

“All I told them was ‘you’ve got ten seconds. Push it and they’re either going to foul you or you’re going to get someone up the court,'” Skouby said. “They did great. Luckily, Julie was able to see the floor and she got up to Phoenix. Phoenix caught the ball, which was number one, and got that shot up. It went in.”

Last Tuesday, Cedar Ridge had a six-point lead against Voyager Academy with 1:05 remaining, but lost 36-35 in overtime. Three days later, the Red Wolves led East Chapel Hill 32-26 with 4:00 left, but the Wildcats scored the game’s final 13 points to win 39-32.

As painful as those near-misses were, it may have been worth it if Smith could be the hero once the elusive win finally came. Last season, the Red Wolves played several games with only five players when injuries and the pandemic left them without any substitutes. Knowing she would have to play all 32 minutes before the opening tip, Smith was out there as the team’s point guard ready to face insurmountable odds, along with Cierra Copeland, Cameron Copeland, Anjelica Carbajal and Bryn Booker.

Smith, a three-sport athlete, was one of three seniors on the Cedar Ridge volleyball team that just won the 3A State Championship.

“Phoenix works her but off every day for you,” Skouby said. “That’s all you can ask. She works hard. She was out there last year working hard. This year, she can go a little harder because she does have someone who can go in for her every so often if we need to, which is nice. She’s on the floor being aggressive.”

When Skouby took over as women’s basketball coach, her first obvious order of business was to increase the roster. She served as an assistant to Fiona Cunningham in volleyball, where juniors Julie Altieri and Grace Young agreed to join the team. Since August, she’s walked the hallways of Cedar Ridge looking to get people to go out for the team. She was so successful that she actually had to cut six players from the roster last month.

Altieri has been a starting guard for each of Cedar Ridge’s four games. Though she hasn’t played an organized basketball game since she was in seventh grade, Altieri leads the team with 10.7 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Young scored nine points against East Chapel Hill last Friday. It was the first time that she played in a basketball game since she was eight years old.

Cedar Ridge will start Central Carolina Conference play against Western Alamance tonight. It figures to be a tough league with Northwood (who reached the 3A Eastern Regional championship game last year), Eastern Alamance and Person leading the way.

But the losing streak that has permeated Red Wolves basketball for nearly two years is now a thing of the past.

*Photo credit to Heather Bradsher*

In a game where every possession mattered and often ran in excess of 45 seconds, it was Cedar Ridge who came up with the big points in the most crucial moments.

Junior Kamil Harrison, in his third varsity game, drained six pressure free throws in the final :15.8 seconds as the Red Wolves held on to defeat East Chapel Hill 39-32 at Red Wolves Gymnasium on Friday night. After Harrison drained two charity tosses with :15 left, Red Wolves junior Neco Clark intercepted a pass by East’s Dillon McCafferty, which led to Harrison putting the game out of reach with two more free throws.

This win marks Cedar Ridge’s best start since the 2015-2016 season, which was the last time they reached the state playoffs.

Harrison and Grady Ray each had eleven points to lead the Red Wolves (2-1), while Colton Taylor added eight.

The Red Wolves ended a six-game losing streak to East Chapel Hill, beating the Wildcats for the first time since January 9, 2018.

“We try to practice pressure situations,” said Cedar Ridge coach Jaison Brooks. “You can’t replicate that in a gym. We shoot enough free throws (in practice) that we hope that in pays off. In this situation, it paid off.”

Both teams employed various zone defenses that stymied the other side for long stretches. After East’s James Riley scored on a one-handed runner with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter, the Wildcats had just one more field goal for the rest of the half. The Red Wolves finished the first quarter on a 10-3 run and took the lead for good off a reverse lay-up from Ray.

Cedar Ridge outscored the Wildcats 12-3 in the second quarter to take a 22-9 lead at halftime. Harrison and Colton Taylor both drained 3-pointers. All East (1-2) could muster in the second quarter was one free throw from Rashawn Stewart and a 15-footer from Martez Cotton, which beat the first half buzzer.

In the third quarter, it was the Red Wolves’ turn to suffer offensive frustration. Ray was the only Red Wolf to score in the stanza, but they were both 3-pointers. Stewart, who came off the bench to lead East with ten points, drained a 3-pointer to reduce Cedar Ridge’s lead 28-24.

Stewart opened the fourth quarter with a lay-in off a feed from Isaiah Styron. Martez Cotton forced a steal on the Red Wolves next possession, but the Wildcats missed a lay-in with a chance to tie. Neco Clark then slammed home a dunk in a rare transition basket to put the Red Wolves ahead 30-26.

Women’s Basketball: East Chapel Hill 38, Cedar Ridge 32

It has now been 722 days since the Cedar Ridge women’s basketball team won a game. That long dry spell is on the verge of ending, it’s only a question of when.

It appeared the answer to that question would be on Friday night, but for the second time this week the Red Wolves couldn’t hold on to a lead late.

Trailing 32-26 with 4:31 remaining, East Chapel Hill (2-1) finished the game on a 12-0 run to defeat Cedar Ridge 38-32. The Red Wolves led for most of the second half, but East’s Riley Ellis scored seven consecutive points to give the Wildcats the lead with 2:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Junior Julie Altieri led the Red Wolves with 12 points, but the Red Wolves only had three points in the fourth quarter. The only field goal came from freshman Kathryn Romska, who knocked down a wing jumper to put the Red Wolves ahead by six points.

Grace Young, in her first basketball game since she was six years old, scored ten points, including a 3-pointer in the third quarter that put the Red Wolves ahead. Cedar Ridge came back from an early 12-point deficit to take the lead in the second half.

Ellis and Abigail Stone led the Wildcats with 12 points each.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Northern Durham on Monday, then travel to Western Alamance for its Central Carolina Conference opener on Tuesday.

MEN’S GAME: CEDAR RIDGE 39, EAST CHAPEL HILL 32

EAST CHAPEL HILL–Dillon McCafferty 5, James Riley 8, Isaiah Styron 3, Martez Cotton 2, Thailand Evans 4, Rashawn Stewart 10.

CEDAR RIDGE–Colton Taylor 8, Garrett Ray 11, Cameron Harper 1, Neco Clark 6, Kamil Harrison 11, Hayden Kirk 2.

WOMEN’S GAME: EAST CHAPEL HILL 38, CEDAR RIDGE 32

EAST CHAPEL HILL–Riley Ellis 12, Fiona Park 4, Gabby Sielken 2, Abigail Stone 12, Lauren Steiner 8.

CEDAR RIDGE–Julie Altieri 12, Cameron Copeland 3, Phoenix Smith 5, Grace Young 10, Kathryn Romska 2.

Robert Jones: After capturing the gold medal at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in the high jump, former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf Robert Jones earned his third victory of the season. Last weekend, Jones finished first in the men’s high jump at the Aggie Classic Twilight at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. Jones’ winning jump was 2.05 meters. This season, Jones has not finished outside the top-five in any of the events he’s competed in. He now heads to the NCAA Eastern Regional Championships, which will start Thursday inside Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team’s season came to an end over the weekend in the Stillwater Regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament. The Bulldogs opened play with a 3-1 win over Boston University on Friday afternoon at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater, OK. On Saturday afternoon, #5 Oklahoma State defeated Mississippi State 9-3. In the elimination game on Saturday night, Mississippi State easily defeated Campbell 12-0 in five innings. Oklahoma State eliminated the Bulldogs 10-2 in five innings on Sunday afternoon. Mia Davidson opened the tournament going 1-for-3 against the Terriers. She had an RBI fielder’s choice to score Aquana Brownlee in the fifth inning. In the first game against the Cowgirls, Mia went 1-for-3. Against Campbell, Davidson hit the 69th home run of her career. That moved her into sole possession of 2nd place all-time in Southeastern Conference history. It was also her third home run in the NCAA Tournament for Mississippi State, another school record. Mississippi State broke a school record with four home runs in an NCAA Tournament game. In the third inning, Mia tagged out Campbell’s Katelyn Chisholm at the plate. Davidson went 1-for-2 in her final game of the season. Mississippi State took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning after Davidson drove in a run with a single up the middle. It was her seventh career RBI in the NCAA Tournament, which is third in school history. She also reached base for the 20th straight game, a new career-high. Mia ended the year with a .311 batting average after starting all 60 of the Bulldogs’ games. She was second on the team with 17 home runs. She also registered 42 RBIs. Davidson, who was accepted into graduate’s school last month, will enter her senior season only two home runs shy of the SEC record, held by Florida’s Lauren Haeger.

Montana Davidson: Montana started all four of Mississippi State’s games at third base in the NCAA Tournament. Against Boston University, she singled up the middle in the sixth to knock in Christian Quinn for the game’s final run. Montana finished 1-for-3 against the Terriers. She went 0-for-3 against Oklahoma State. Later in the day against Campbell, Montana finished 1-for-3. She scored in the 3rd inning off a Carter Spexarth. On Sunday, Davidson drove in the final Mississippi State run of the year with a single in the 2nd inning. For the season, Montana finished with a .252 batting average in 58 games. She had three home runs and 21 RBIs. Mississippi State finished the year 34-23, which included an 8-game winning streak down the stretch. Montana is a senior, but can opt for another year of eligibility after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season before the NCAA Tournament started.

Tori Dalehite: After winning the Southern Conference Championship for the first time, the UNC Greensboro softball team participated in the NCAA Tournament for the first time this weekend. Duke defeated the Spartans 2-0 in the opening game of the Athens, Georgia regional at the University of Georgia. Western Kentucky ended the Spartans season 8-4 in the elimination game at Jack Turner Stadium. Dalehite, a freshman, didn’t play in either game. This year, Dalehite appeared in 12 games, almost exclusively as a pinch runner. She had one at-bat, walked once and scored six runs. UNCG finished 34-17, 14-4 in the Southern Conference.

Once again, we go back into the time machine for this week’s Retro Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week. This time, we journey back to the week beginning January 17 for Cedar Ridge women’s basketball guard Phoenix Smith. This year, Cedar Ridge was hit hard by COVID-19 and injuries. Quite often, Cedar Ridge only had five players for games. Despite having no reserves, Phoenix started at point guard and didn’t back down. A junior, Smith was in her this season on the varsity level. Now, Smith is bringing her strong work ethic to the Cedar Ridge women’s track and field team. Smith has finished 2nd in the pole vault during a meet at Southern Durham last week. She also ran in the 100-meter dash, where she finished fourth. On Thursday at Cedar Ridge, Smith competed against East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill. She managed to establish a new personal best in the 100 meter dash. Now, Smith has a goal of reaching the regional championships next month, whether its for the pole vault or the 100-meter dash. Next week Cedar Ridge will compete against Northwood and Orange during a tri-meet at Northwood High in Pittsboro. Congratulations to a tribute in perseverance, this week’s Retro Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week, Phoenix Smith.