Ridgecroft boys fall in second round of NCISAA State Tournament
Published 4:24 pm Friday, February 16, 2024
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AHOSKIE – The fourth time was the charm for Pungo Christian Academy.
Playing in the final game of his high school career, Ridgecroft School’s Sawyer Chamblee scored 27 points in Thursday’s 70-62 loss vs. Pungo Christian in the NCISAA State Tournament. Photo by William Anthony
After losing each of its three games this season against Ridgecroft School by a combined 14 points, the Raiders finally came out on top here Thursday where Pungo used a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Rams, 70-62.
The game was a second round matchup in the 2024 North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association’s 1A State Tournament.
Highlighted by a pair of three pointers from Baylor Edwards and one by Sawyer Chamblee, the Rams led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Chamblee drained a pair of long-range bombs in the second period, but the Rams trailed by two points (31-29) at halftime.
A back-and-forth battle ensued in the third period, one that ended with Ridgecroft trailing by a single point (46-45).
Pungo pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Ridgecroft 24-17 to claim the win.
Chamblee, a senior playing in his final game, had a big night for the Rams, leading his team with 27 points.
Fellow senior Bill Vaughan also struck for double digits for Ridgecroft, scoring 14 points in his final game.
Edwards, also a senior, added 8 points.
Nacir Lewis (9) and Antron Gray (4) rounded out the Ridgecroft scoring.
Ridgecroft, who won the regular season and tournament titles in the Tarheel Independent Conference, ended its season with a 19-6 overall record.
Pungo (23-5 overall) advances to Saturday’s NCISAA quarterfinals where they will travel to meet top seeded United Faith Christian Academy (23-7 overall).