AHOSKIE – Sometimes a player’s absence encourages teammates to step up.

Such was the case Thursday night when Ridgecroft School, playing without leading scorer Hayes Bryant, got balanced scoring and edged Bethel Christian Academy 47-41 in varsity girls’ basketball action. Bryant missed the game with a broken finger.

“We played well enough to win,” Ridgecroft Head Coach Elton Winslow said. “We got in foul trouble, but we had some girls come in off the bench and hold their own.

“I give a lot of credit to Bethel for the way they played,” he added. “We were just able to do enough to win.”

Emily Cooke got things started well for the Lady Rams, hitting a triple and scoring twice from the free throw line to help Ridgecroft lead 5-0.

Mindy Miller countered for Bethel, but Caitlin Harrison’s score helped Ridgecroft build a 7-2 edge.

Bethel got back-to-back hoops from Miller and Kelli Hoggard, but the Rams countered with the same from Cooke and Bardin Murray.

Hoggard’s hoop as the first quarter ended closed Bethel’s gap to 11-8.

Bethel closed to within one when Hoggard scored to open the second period and the teams exchanged hoops for the better part of three minutes.

Cooke and April Piland hit back-to-back three-pointers for Ridgecroft late in the first half to help extend the Rams’ advantage to 22-15.

Bethel got three free throws from Miller and Hoggard to close within 22-18, but Emily Revelle’s hoop as the half expired gave Ridgecroft a 24-18 lead at the intermission.

A pair of free throws from Tayler Smith and a hoop and free throw from senior Jessica Bolton helped the Rams extend their lead to 29-18 with 6:49 to play in the third quarter and they maintained that advantage throughout the quarter, leading by 11 (37-26) by the end of the third period.

Bolton led the Rams in that quarter with six of her team-high 10 points.

Hoggard and Miller sandwiched Bethel baskets around a Revelle hoop to open the fourth period and get the lead under 10 (39-30), but Ridgecroft got free throws from Murray and Revelle to extend the advantage to 42-30.

Bethel attempted a comeback over the final four minutes beginning with a hoop and free throw from Miller and then a bucket by Erin Young. Hoggard added two free throws and Miller scored again to close the gap to 42-39 with just 1:07 to play.

Ridgecroft got free throws from Piland and Bolton over that final minute as they held on for the six-point win.

Bolton led the Rams with 10 points, but the team also got nine from Murray, eight from Cooke and six from Harrison.

Hoggard was Bethel’s top scorer with 17 while Miller added 16 points.

Lady Rams (47): Jessica Bolton n 10, Bardin Murray n 9, Emily Cooke n 8, Caitlin Harrison n 6, April Piland n 5, Emily Revelle n 5, Tayler Smith n 2, Taylor Futrell n 2

Lady Eagles (41): Kelli Hoggard n 17, Mindy Miller n 16, Erin Young n 4, Megan Simons n 2, Charitee Dunlow – 2