Cedar Ridge Men’s Basketball

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is men’s basketball center Harrison Perel. This season, Perel was the leading rebounder with 9.6 board per game as the Red Wolves pulled some big surprise wins. He was also the leading shooter on the team firing at 40% from the field. He was second on the team with 9.1 points per game. Perel also led the team with 1.2 blocks per game. In the Red Wolves stunning win over Person on January 2 in Hillsborough, Perel had seven points and eleven rebounds, despite the presence of the Rockets big men Lance Clarke and Romello Snow. In the Red Wolves win over Chatham Central, who entered the game undefeated, Perel had six points and eight rebounds. Against Jordan-Matthews, Perel had ten points and ten rebounds. Perel remained a steady presence throughout the course of his two years at the varsity level under head coach Mike Jones. Perel averaged 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in his Cedar Ridge career. His season-high came against Jordan-Matthews with 19 points on November 27 in Siler City. He also had eight double-doubles this season and played his best basketball as his career ended. Against Walter Williams, Perel had 16 points and 12 rebounds. He recorded double-doubles in three of his last four games. Perel’s younger sister, Ellamarie, is the starting goalkeeper for Cedar Ridge’s women’s soccer team.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior men’s basketball guard Landon Dalehite. In January, Dalehite spearheaded the Red Wolves to two upset wins. On January 2, Dalehite scored 12 points as the Red Wolves upset Person 48-41 at Red Wolves Gymnasium. With Person leading 38-34, Dalehite drained a 3-pointer with 4:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. From that point forward, Person didn’t score agains as the Red Wolves gained a critical Central Conference win. The following week, Cedar Ridge upset previously undefeated Chatham Central 53-52 in overtime. Dalehite scored seven points. On Tuesday night, Dalehite led Cedar Ridge in scoring with 15 points. Since Christmas, the Red Wolves haven’t had all hands on decks because of injuries, illness and defections. But Dalehite has been there at every game. The son of Danny and Beth Dalehite, Landon is a two-sport athlete. After basketball season ends, Landon will suit up to play left field for the Cedar Ridge baseball team. Last year, Dalehite was a starter for a Cedar Ridge team that earned an automatic bid to the 3A State Playoffs. Dalehite’s sister, Tori, was a two-time Big 8 Conference champion in softball who also played volleyball and basketball at Cedar Ridge. She’s entering her senior year at UNC Greensboro. Dalehite will celebrate senior night later this month with plans to pull more upsets on the hardwood before his time is done. 

From the start of this season, Cedar Ridge men’s basketball coach Mike Jones has touted freshman point guard Jordan Jacobson as a rising star. On Monday night, Jacobson showed why Jones is so enthusiastic. He scored the game-winning three-pointer with :5.4 remaining in overtime as the Red Wolves defeated previously undefeated Chatham Central 53-52 in overtime. Not only did Jacobson hit the game-winning shot, but he also put the game into overtime with a 16-footer with :8.1 remaining to even the score 46-46. Jacobson had a career-high 12 points. Braeden Wilbourn paced Cedar Ridge with 18 points. Chatham Central led 43-36 with 3:51 remaining before the Red Wolves finished regulation with seven consecutive points. Wilbourn scored on a lay-in off an assist from Jacobson to start the comeback. Then Wilbourn hit two free throws off a technical foul to put the Red Wolves within a bucket. After Jacobson knocked down the 3-pointer in overtime, Wilbourn sealed the game with an interception of a skip pass by the Bears. Afterwards, Jones called it the Red Wolves best win of the season. Last week, Cedar Ridge upset Person at Red Wolves Gymnasium. Cedar Ridge will return home tonight (Friday) against Eastern Alamance for a doubleheader. The women’s game will be at 6PM while the men’s game starts at 7;30. 

Even in the darkest hole, you’d be well advised to never count out Cedar Ridge men’s basketball this season.

It wouldn’t make much sense to think that Cedar Ridge could take down Chatham Central on Monday night, especially when the Bears came into the game 12-0.  Chatham’s first win came against Cedar Ridge, 65-48, on November 21 in Bear Creek.

Since then, the Bears had beaten ten of its twelve opponents by double-figures. Only Seaforth (64-57) and Southeast Alamance (69-64) had given Chatham Central a competitive game.

Yet not only did the Red Wolves pull off a 53-52 upset in overtime on Monday night at Red Wolves Gymnasium, but it was a freshman who paved the way.

Jordan Jacobson drilled the game-winning three-pointer with :5.4 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Red Wolves to its third win of the season. In the final sequence, Cedar Ridge’s Landon Dalehite had an open look from the left elbow but missed a three-pointer. The Red Wolves Braeden Wilbourn attempted a catch-and-shoot on the rebound, but it was blocked by the Bears’ Aidan Johnson. Cedar Ridge center Hayden Kirk knocked the ball back to Jacobson on the wing for the game-winning shot.

Jacobson was responsible for the game going to overtime in the first place. He drained an 18-footer with :8.1 remaining in regulation to even it up at 46-46. The Bears’ Reed Albright missed a three-point attempt over Dalehite at the fourth quarter buzzer.

The Bears’ final chance to win was intercepted by Wilbourn, who swiped a skip pass and dribbled up the floor untouched. As the clock ran out, a triumphant Cedar Ridge coach Mike Jones thrust both of his fists into the air in jubilation for possibly the biggest win in his second year on the job.

“We’ve got so much more confidence now,” Jones said. “I’m so proud of my guys. They were down in the fourth quarter but they never got down on themselves. I knew Jordan was ready to take those shots. He has the confidence to do that. I love my team.”

Wilbourn led Cedar Ridge with 16 points. Jacobson had a career-high 12 points.

Jeremiah Young came off the bench to lead the Bears (13-1) with 17 points. Albright added 13.

Wilbourn started overtime with a beautiful spin move down the lane for a lay-in. Albright responded with two free-throws to even the game at 48-48. It appeared Dalehite would have a chance to put the Red Wolves ahead by three when he drove the lane for his own lay-up, but he was called for a charge as he collided with Johnson.

Chatham Central’s Luke Gains split two free throws to put the Bears ahead 49-48. Wilbourn responded with a gorgeous lay-in off the dribble.

While the Bears have a wide array of outside shooters, for a fleeting moment it appeared their hero would be Logan Maness, who drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:01 remaining in overtime. It was Maness’ only points of the game and vaulted the Bears ahead 52-50.

Cedar Ridge trailed 30-26 at the half. The Bears increased its lead to 43-36 with 3:51 remaining after a 15-foot jumper by Young. Jacobson started the comeback with a lay-up on a dribble drive. Dalehite blocked a shot by Alrbright on the next Chatham possession and fed Jacobson, who hit Wilbourn down the floor for another lay-in. Seconds later, a Chatham Central reserve who never played in the game was hit with a technical foul after he yelled something to an official about the lack of a foul call on Dalehite’s block.

Two free throws by Wilbourn cut Chatham Central’s lead to 43-42 with 2:36 remaining.

The Red Wolves will face Orange tonight in Hillsborough. While the Red Wolves will be underdogs, it’s something that Jones won’t worry about after a memorable Monday night.

“This win stomps that Person win,” Jones said. “This was a bigger one.”