Ridge View overcame a shaky start and got some clutch threes in the 2nd half in their 49-40 win over Alta Aurelia tonight (Tues) in a girls basketball 2A region quarterfinal.
Alta Aurelia scored the opening nine points of the game. A basket-and-one from Madison Stowater with 5.4 seconds to go in the 1st quarter cut the Warriors lead to 10-5 after eight minutes of play.
A three by Shae Dutler gave the Raptors their first lead at 19-17, but Alta Aurelia closed the 2nd quarter on a 6-1 stretch to take a 23-20 lead at halftime.
A three by Faith Freese opened the 3rd quarter scoring to tie the game, but the Warriors followed a 5-0 run. Stowater hit a three to give Ridge View the lead for good at 30-29, and later hit another three in the closing seconds of the 3rd quarter to put the Raptors up 49-40 going to the 4th.
Back to back Warriors baskets, including one by Brielle Engelmann with 5:48 remaining, and then an Alta Aurelia free throw soon after made it a three point game, but that was as close as they got down the stretch. Ridge View scored the next four points, but Alta Aurelia remained within striking distance, and a free throw by Lucy Gunkelman with just over three minutes left made the score 44-40. With the shot clock winding down on the ensuing possession, Sydney Blackmore connected on a three with 2:30 left to push the Raptors lead to 47-40. A transition basket by Kiara Dutler provided the final tally.
Ridge View hit eight threes on the night, including three by Stowater who had a game-high 21 points. Brielle Engelmann had 14 for Alta Aurelia, and Ella Nielsen added 10.
Postgame comments from Ridge View coach Brian Bode can be heard below.
Alta Aurelia finishes the season at 10-12, as they bid farewell to seniors Engelmann and Shea Peterson, who chipped in 8 points.
Ridge View has now won 9 of their last 11 games to improve to 12-9. The Raptors play this coming Friday, February 17th at 7pm in a region semifinal at #4 Sibley Ocheyedan. The game will be broadcast on 92.9FM KKIA.
