Roadrunners Sweep Season Series

On different nights in different gyms, players will step up and make huge plays for their team and it was no difference Friday night in front of a packed house. In their first meeting, U of M signee, Tarik Black provided the lift needed to beat the talented Jaguars of Southwind. 3 straight turnovers started the 3rd quarter for Southwind before Darren Gray scored on 2 baskets straight to put his team up 5, 39-34 before sophmore Cameron Golden gave them the offense that he has been giving them all season. After a runner to make the score even, 43-43, he followed that with a steal and a lay up and the foul to put Ridgeway up 3. Reserve guard Demetrius Lampkins then came in off the bench and hit a big 3 to put them up 6 points as Ridgeway outscored Southwind, 20-8 to end the 3rd quarter.After 7 turnovers in the 3rd quarter, as many as they had in the entire first half, Southwind found themselves down 8 to start the 4th quarter, 51-43. After going down 12, Gray hit 16 foot jumper to bring the game within 10, 55-45 with 6:57 left in the game as Southwind tried to mount one last comeback. After a Darious Paige 3, the 5′9 junior got a steal on the inbound  to cut the lead to 3, 55-52 as they went on a 7-0 run of their own. On the next possession by Ridgeway, Black went over his right shoulder for an easy lay in as Ridgeway maintained their lead. A Gray trey brought it to 3 again for a slim lead for Ridgeway but once again, Black was there again with a dunk to make the score 68-63. Up as many as 7 points with under 1:40 left, the game seemed to be at hand but a Denzel Hardy jumper and a steal by Fifer with 10.5 seconds left  gave Southwind a little life as the score became a little to close for comfort for Coach Wes Henning of Ridgeway. With the score being 72-70 ,  Southwind had to foul, sending Marterrance Brock to the line for pressure free throws, the senior 6′3 guard added 2 more to his total of 14 points hitting both free throws as Southwind’s hopes rested on a quick 3 and a foul. Darious Paige hit a 3 but time simply ticked away as they had run out of timeouts for a 74-73 Ridgeway win. Oh yeah, that player that I was talking that stepped up in a major way, Cameron Golden with 21 points followed by Tarik Black’s 14. Darren Gray had 21 as well for Southwind with Darious Paige coming in with 21 points.