After the first two weeks of the season, there was a sense of optimism around the Cedar Ridge girls basketball team.
They started the season with three straight wins over Durham School of the Arts, Jordan-Matthews and Person. However, Coach Felton Page knew the toughest was yet to come the week after Thanksgiving, when his team would face Rockingham County, Goldsboro and Riverside in a span of four days.
Rockingham County advanced to the 3A state quarterfinals last season. Goldsboro is a stingy defensive team and Riverside is 4-1 that’s already defeated Chapel Hill, Northern Durham and Sanderson by lopsided margins.
Sure enough, the reason for concern was validated.
On Friday night, Riverside’s full-court press caused 26 Cedar Ridge turnovers in a 59-21 Pirates’ victory. The game was even 8-8 after the first quarter, but the Pirates used its pressure defense to hold the Red Wolves to only four field goals the rest of the game.
Earlier in the week, Rockingham County handed the Red Wolves a 57-26 loss. The Cougars’ Madeline Hardy, a 6-6 center who has committed to Lenoir-Rhyne, finished wth 19 points.
On Wednesday, Goldsboro held off the Red Wolves 43-49 in Hillsborough. Wardlow led Cedar Ridge with nine points while Yolanda Simpson had 8.
Against Riverside, Aijah Perry finished with 23 points to lead the Pirates. Ashauntee Nelson added twelve while Ladasia Jones had nine.
Cedar Ridge will return to action on Monday night in Hillsborough to host Raleigh Word of God at 6. They travel to Carrboro on Wednesday night at 6.
RIVERSIDE 59, CEDAR RIDGE 21
CEDAR RIDGE: Yolanda Simpson 2, Natalia Garay 2, Logan Woody 6, Madison Wardlow 4, Grace Davies 1, Tori Dalehite 4, Caitlyn Lloyd 2.
RIVERSIDE: Nakaya Crowley 4, Aijah Perry 23, Ashauntee Nelson 12, Ladasia Jones 9, Eliza Dukes 2, Allison Nichting 2, Jaela Self 3, Deborah Easley 4.