by Malcolm Butler
Ringgold held its own block party Tuesday night.
Unfortunately, for the Cedar Creek Cougars, it came at their expense.
The Redskins (7-15, 2-0), a team that advanced to last year’s Top 28 in NonSelect Division IV, were too much defensively for the Cougars (11-5, 1-1) as they defeated Creek 55-28 at The Brickhouse.
It was a game that saw the normally high-powered Cougars struggle all night to score, much of that due to the athleticism of their opponent whose length, quickness and jumping ability proved to be fatal.
Time after time throughout the game, the Cougars appeared to have a point blank shot or short jumper but ultimately a Redskin would reject it.
“We couldn’t get anything going offensively,” said Waldron. “I don’t know how many blocks they had, but it was a lot. Every time we got a good look, it was a block. That really hurt us. I have never had block shots be that important to a game, but it really was tonight.
“I thought we got some pretty good looks, but every time, it seemed like they blocked our shot. That was the most athletic team we have played all year.”
Cannon Robbins gave the Cougars an early 2-0 lead one minute into the contest, but Ringgold answered with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to take an eight-point lead. Brett Bell and Jake Terry recorded back-to-back buckets over a 30 second stretch to close the gap to 10-6, and another Terry bucket to end the quarter made it 12-8.
Ringgold then opened the second quarter on another 10-0 run as Creek didn’t record its first points until Landon Hall hit a layup with 3:15 to play before the half to make the score 22-10. Creek, which played without three-year starter Jack Bell (illness), trailed 24-12 at the half after scoring just four points in the second stanza.
“Not having Jack really hurt us,” said Waldron. “We could have really used him tonight.”
Ringgold pushed its lead out to 20 early in the third quarter and the Cougars would get no closer than 19 points the rest of the way. The Redskins held the Cougars to a season-low in points, surpassing the previous low of 40 in a loss to Quitman.
“Ringgold played a really tough schedule and they came in here, and they were just better than we were,” said Waldron.
The game was unique in that neither team hit a three-pointer all night. Terry led Creek with 12 points while Bell and Robbins each scored six points.
The Cougars will travel to face Plain Dealing Friday.
“We have to bounce back Friday and play the next one,” said Waldron.
______________________________
Cedar Creek Scoring: FG(3)-FT=Total Points
Cannon Robbins 3-0=6; Brett Bell 3-0=6; Rhett Bridges 1-0=2; Landon Hall 1-0=2; Jake Terry 4-4=12. Totals: 12-4=28.
Score by Quarters
Ringgold (7-15, 2-0): 12-12-13-18=55
Cedar Creek (11-5, 1-1): 8-4-8-8=28
