Ringgold teams endure roller coaster week
The Ringgold Lady Tigers began the week with a big region victory, but the Blue-and-White would suffer their first 6-AAA loss of the year on Friday before another bitter non-region loss to close out the weekend.
Ringgold girls 65, Sonoraville 46
The Lady Tigers got 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals from Rachel Akers as they led 34-17 at halftime en route to the road win. Riley Nayadley finished with 14 points and four rebounds, while Shelby Cole had 10 points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Maggie Reed had nine points and three steals. Rachel Lopez had eight points and three steals. Baileigh Pitts added six points and six boards, while Sydney Pittman finished with three points, three rebounds and two assists. Ringgold helped itself by going 12-of-16 at the free throw line.
Coahulla Creek girls 47, Ringgold 44
After nine consecutive region victories to begin the year, the Lady Tigers were forced to put a mark in the loss column on Friday. Playing at home against the Lady Colts, the two region heavyweights battled for 32 minutes before the visitors from Varnell were able to hang on for the three-point victory.
Ringgold overcame a firsthalf scoring drought to go into halftime down 18-16 and they would rally from a 10-point deficit in the second half to pull within 46-44 with 22 seconds to play.
After a Coahulla Creek turnover under its own basket, Ringgold would look to Akers in the paint. The junior post player appeared to draw some contact on the low block during her shot, but no foul was called and the Lady Colts were able to corral the rebound.
Coahulla Creek made 1-of-2 ensuing free throws with 8.8 seconds left and held on as a final 3-point attempt by Ringgold was off the mark.
Nayadley had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three assists for Ringgold (9-1 in 6-AAA), while Akers (five rebounds) and Reed (three steals) both finished with eight points. Lopez had four points for the Lady Tigers. Pitts ended the game with three points, while Cole and Pittman had two points each.
Heritage girls 57, Ringgold 40
Facing another co-region leader, the Lady Tigers fell behind by seven points at halftime and never recovered in the loss to their county foes.
Akers had 12 points for the Lady Tigers (13-5 overall), but was the only Ringgold player in double figures. Nayadley had nine points. Reed finished with six points. Pitts dropped in five. Lopez had four, while Cole and Pittman had two points apiece.
Coahulla Creek boys 70, Ringgold 64
After a 53-42 win at Sonoraville last Tuesday (individual scoring was not provided as of press time), the Tigers ran into a hot-shooting Colts team at home on Friday.
Coahulla Creek used a 15-6 third-quarter run to push their advantage up to 15 points with 3:02 left in the quarter and they would take a 48-36 lead into the fourth period of play when the Tigers finally got rolling.
Ringgold continue to chip away, cutting the deficit to three points twice in the fourth quarter, the last coming with 1:02 to play after Jackson House’s fourth 3-pointer of the fourth quarter. However, it would be the last points of the night for the Tigers as the Colts
would hit three free throws in the final minute of play to ice the victory.
Cade Nayadley finished with 17 points for Ringgold (5-5 in 6-AAA), while House had 14 points. Chandler Johnson added 13 points. Blake Goldsmith finished with 12 and Logan Hullender chipped in with eight.
Heritage boys 71, Ringgold 58
Up two with one quarter remaining on Saturday, the Tigers were outscored 26-11 over the final eight minutes as they fell to 9-9 overall on the season.
Nayadley once again led the Tigers, this time with 20 points. Hullender had 14 points and Goldsmith went for nine. Johnson had six points. Dalton Green had five, while House and Kobi Baker had two points each.
Ringgold was scheduled to play region games at Calhoun on Tuesday before hosting Catoosa rival LFO on Friday. Then on Saturday, they will make the short drive to Boynton for rematches with Heritage.