Cedar Ridge didn’t score often in the final quarter of its opening matchup against Carrboro.
But they scored when it mattered most.
Tripp Beasley hit a 3-pointer with :6.4 remaining as the Red Wolves defeated Carrboro 46-45 in the seventh place game of the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoops Invitational on Tuesday at Haw River. Sophomore Karter Wilson found Beasley for the game-winning shot for Cedar Ridge, which had gone scoreless for over five minutes in the fourth quarter.
Beasley and Jack Kelsey each scored 12 points for the Red Wolves (2-9), which won in a holiday tournament for the first time since December 28, 2015, when they defeated C.B. Aycock in the Clinton Christmas Tournament.
Carrboro (0-11) was led by Jake McGrath, who scored 13 points.
The Jaguars erased an 18-point deficit and took the lead with 1:39 remaining after McGrath hit two free throws to go ahead 45-43. After Cedar Ridge missed a 3-pointer, the Jaguars had a chance to extend its lead in the final minute, but McGrath missed a jumper and Cedar Ridge’s Kevin Ntim grabbed the rebounds.
On the final possession, Carrboro turned the ball over and the Red Wolves were able to run out the clock. Cedar Ridge won despite being outscored 15-5 in the final quarter.
Cedar Ridge scored the first 15 points of the game, starting with a Beasley 3-pointer off an assist from A.J. Seymore. Senior Mason Hughes stole the ball on the subsequent Carrboro possession and scored on a lay-in. Cedar Ridge shot 8-of-14 from the field in the opening quarter.
Kelsey, who grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds for Cedar Ridge, score off a pass from Hughes to put the Red Wolves ahead 20-2 in the first quarter. Carrboro’s Henry Brooks and Finn Lewis closed out the stanza with field goals to reduce Cedar Ridge’s lead to 20-6.
Carrboro shot 6-of-12 from the field in the second quarter and cut the Red Wolves lead to 29-22. After Red Wolf guard Andre Reese opened the frame with a 3-pointer assisted by Wilson, the Jaguars went on a 12-1 run. Willam Gower triggered the push with a 3-pointer from the wing off a pass from Davis. Ben Frederick scored off a pass from Lewis to reduce Cedar Ridge’s lead to 24-18, but Ntim scored off an assist from A.J. Seymore.
Seymore was named to the All-Tournament team.
