Ridgeland teams drop region contests

Last week was a tough one for the Ridgeland basketball teams as both the Panthers and Lady Panthers dropped a pair of Region 6-AAAA contests before enduring a road sweep at the hands of county foe Gordon Lee on Saturday.

Northwest girls 69, Ridgeland 27

D’Erika Ervin had 12 points for the Lady Panthers in last Tuesday’s road loss to the 10th-ranked Lady Bruins. Fran King and Makenzie Howard both added five points, followed by three from Hannah DeSalvo and two by Kia Wade.

Pickens girls 81, Ridgeland 33

Ridgeland trailed by just seven points at the end of the first quarter at home on Friday, but were outscored by the visiting Dragonettes, 25-6, in the second period.

King had 10 points for Ridgeland (0-8 in 6-AAAA). Ervin had nine points, including a 7-of-8 performance at the free throw line. Wade had six points. DeSalvo and Cordasia Watkins had three points apiece, while Howard finished with two.

Gordon Lee girls 57, Ridgeland 30

Ervin and Wade had a team-best six points each for the Lady Panthers (3-17 overall). King had five points. Watkins added four points. Annabel Hill had three points. Kyla Hamby and Macie Boren had two points apiece, while Howard and Asia Silmon both scored one.

Northwest boys 74, Ridgeland 63

The Panthers put up a solid effort on the road last Tuesday, but remained winless in 6-AAAA with the loss in Tunnel Hill.

Riley Harrison had 11 of his game and season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter. Ethan Moyer added nine points, followed by Fred Norman, Jr. with eight and Nathan Carver with seven.

Pickens boys 67, Ridgeland 60

In Friday’s nightcap, the Panthers led 37-32 at halftime and took a 46-44 lead into the fourth quarter. However, the Dragons would erupt for 23 points in the final period and went on to score a region win.

Norman led all scorers with 26 points for the Panthers (0-8 in 6-AAAA). Harrison had 10 points. A’zavier Blackwell finished with nine, while Moyer netted six. Four points by Chris Turner, three from Carver and two from Cedric Shropshire completed the scoring for Ridgeland.

Gordon Lee boys 64, Ridgeland 36

Norman was the only Ridgeland player in double figures as the senior finished with 11 points. Moyer had six points. Harrison added

five points and Shropshire finished with four. Three points by Turner, two each by Khris Walker, Amarreon Turner and Kobe Lewis and one apiece from Carver and Blackwell rounded out the scoring for the Panthers (2-17 overall).

Following Tuesday’s game at Southeast Whitfield, Ridgeland will host Gilmer on Friday night.