Rams struggle but win ninth in a row
Observer-Reporter
Ringgold’s Chris Peccon suffered injuries in his first three years at Ringgold. That didn’t stop him from scoring 1,000 points in his career and recently committing to California University.
Ringgold’s Demetrius Butler scores two against Waynesburg’s Chase Henkins.
Holly Tonini/for the Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s Lucas Garber eclipsed 1,000 career points in the third game of this season is averaging 20 points per game this year.
Ringgold’s Luke Wyvratt looks to make a pass around Waynesburg’s Richard Bortz.
Waynesburg’s Richard Bortz goes up for a layup in front of Ringgold’s Ben Lawrence during Friday’s game.
MONONGAHELA – Ringgold won its ninth straight game to remain atop Section 3-AAAA with a 65-53 win over Waynesburg Friday night.
But Ringgold struggled at the start of the game and trailed at halftime.
“Being off for a week, we struggled in the first half,” said Ringgold coach Phil Pergola. “But the third quarter was the difference as we were able to control the pace.”
With his team down 22-19 at the half, the Rams (9-1, 2-0) scored 27 points in the third quarter to take a 46-35 lead into the fourth.
Waynesburg coach Kirk King did not believe his team’s tough loss at Brownsville Thursday night played a part in the outcome.
“Ringgold is a good basketball team and they went on a run,” he said of the 27-13 Ringgold advantage in the third quarter. “My guys played hard and we fought back in the fourth, but we couldn’t get it closer than six points. But I don’t think playing two games in two nights had anything to do with the game as Ringgold made a few more plays than we did.”
In the third, Ringgold’s Luke Wyvratt scored 10 of his 18 points to pace the Rams.
“My teammates did a good job of seeing that I had the hot hand and kept getting me the ball,” he said. “The third quarter was the difference and our rebounding was a part of the reason why.”
Ringgold’s biggest lead of the game was 14 points, 46-32, with less than a minute to go in the third quarter, but Waynesburg’s Caleb Shriver hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 46-35.
Waynesburg (1-1, 6-4) hit a trio of three-pointers in the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter as the Raiders gained momentum.
Lucas Garber’s basket with 3:30 left cut the Ringgold lead to six, but Waynesburg would get no closer down the stretch.
The second half pace was much different than that in the first half. In the first quarter, Ringgold hit five of 11 shots and Waynesburg only made one of its 11 attempts. However, Waynesburg hit five of six free throws while Ringgold only made one of six.
Ringgold led 12-7 after one quarter, but a 13-7 run to end the half for Waynesburg gave the guests a 22-19 lead. Pergola said his staff didn’t give the team much of a pep talk at the half.
“We didn’t say much to motivate them,” he said. “The guys came out and played our game. But we have a lot to improve on before heading to Uniontown Tuesday.”
Chris Peccon led Ringgold with 19 points, Wyvratt had 18 to go with 11 rebounds and Demterius Butler had 15 points.
Chase Henkins and Garber each scored 14 points for Waynesburg and Richard Bortz added 13.
King said his team will bounce back.
“My guys are resilient,” he said. “We will get ready for Tuesday.”