Khalil Spencer Ridgeway Middle (Game MVP)

                                                                               

Ridgeway Middle "Let Me At Em Coach" (City Champs)

A few weeks ago, Ridgeway was a team that looked like they may have been on the verge of collapse. After losing 3 straight, some forgot about the talent that still existed at Ridgeway waiting to come alive and they did at the right time. Clicking,  try this, beating American Way, then Cordova both in away games for them and they had a chance to cap off a special run by beating Craigmont for the city championship. Two early 3 pointers for Craigmont, one by TQ Thurman and the other by Naba Echols and it looked as though Ridgeway would may come out of their early zone. Malik Sanders, a 6′0 guard converted an and 1 with 2:50 left in the game, followed by a rebound and bucket by Dennis Price Jr to put Ridgeway up 9-8 and gave them their first lead of the game. The first lead of the game turned into a lead that Ridgeway would never relinquish as Khalil Spencer opened the 2nd quarter up with a 3 pointer as his team went up 16-10. After another steal by Ridgeway’s Terrel Houston and another basket plus the foul, they put Craigmont down 10. Ridgeway’s hands and defense forced the Chiefs into 7 straight turnovers in the 2nd quarter as Ridgeway capitilized going up 16, 28-12 to end the half. 13 turnovers would not cut in the 2nd half for Craigmont but they still found themselves not clicking offensively. Ridgeway got easy baskets including one on a two by Khalil Spencer who played as well as I’ve seen him play all year long with 18 points and 9 rebounds as Ridgeway went up 20, 36-16. The Roadrunners would go up as many as 22 points in the 3rd as Craigmont had no answer for Ridgeway’s play. Congratulations go to the Ridgeway Middle School Roadrunners, your 2010 City Champions in Large Schools with the 60- 45 win. They persevered throughout the season and achieved a big goal of a city title.

Leading the charge again for Ridgeway was Spencer who was also named the MVP of the game with 18 points. Malik Sanders and Terrel Houston combined for 20 points with both getting 10 each. TQ Thurman led Craigmont with 19 points.

Notes: I thought Coach Phillips did a nice job of giving rest to his players by subbing as they looked like the fresher team the entire game. 8th grader Kevin Shields, who scored 6 points, gave them a big time lift in the first half. It may not sound like a lot but Shields played well also grabbing a few rebounds in big minutes. Ridgeway’s defense was also all over the place and it kind of rattled  Craigmont. If they expect to advance deep in the state tourney, bench play may have to be addressed as the starters looked tired and out of sync late in the game and in some in the first half.

Humes won the city title tonight by 6 points beating Airways. Watch out for Humes who has been on a run lately.