For the first time in three years, Cedar Ridge boys basketball coach Clay Jones didn’t serve as an assistant coach for football.
Instead, he helped coach girls golf, which allowed more time to focus on his basketball team.
Through summer workouts, Jones has made no bones about where his teams stands in the new look Big 8.
“We’re looking up at everyone else right now,” said Jones before Thanksgiving.
So far, that’s been prescient.
On Friday night, Riverside used a 19-4 run in the second quarter to blow past the Pirates 64-35 at Margartha Chambers Court. Treyvon Byrd paced the Pirates (2-3) with ten points. Nine Pirates scored.
Cedar Ridge’s Mekai Collins led the Red Wolves with 13, but Cedar Ridge was held to just 14 points in the 2nd quarter against the taller and faster Pirates.
“Right now, we just have a problem getting the ball in the basket,” said Jones. “It’s not just with one team, it’s a program problem. We struggle against taller teams and that’s what we ran into tonight.”
Cedar Ridge’s only lead of the game came after a pair of free throws by Collins, after Chris Tinnen opened the scoring with a 12-foot jumper on the baseline.
Riverside, coming off a win over Sanderson, got consecutive 3-pointers from Kenny Massey and Micah Jones to push the lead to 16-7 at the end of the first quarter.
“We need to find a bench and we need players who can step up for us,” said Jones. “That’s what we need right now.”
The Red Wolves (1-4) host Word of God on Monday at 7. They travel to Carrboro on Wednesday before hosting Sanderson on Friday.
RIVERSIDE 64, CEDAR RIDGE 35
CEDAR RIDGE-Khalil Barnett 5, Terrance Crawford 7, Chris Tinnen 7, Mekai Collins 13, John Vaughn, Eddie Altieri 2.
RIVERSIDE-Christian Johnson 7, Kenny Massey 9, Treyvon Barnes 10, Jevon Johnson 5, Micah Jones 5, Ben Amstead 5, Trey Goldsmith 6, Josh Alston 3, Myles Sanford 5, Jordann Baker 5.