Basketball Recap: Hickory Ridge Gets Big Victory over Higher-Ranked Mallard Creek

With a playoff win on the line, Hickory Ridge rose to the challenge on Friday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 37-34 win over the Mallard Creek Mavericks. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Ragin' Bulls' disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 61st, while the Mavericks are ranked ninth).

Ma-Kaela Gidney

Points

02/28/25 @ Mallard Creek	22
02/25/25 vs Ragsdale	21
02/21/25 @ Lake Norman	22
02/18/25 @ Cox Mill	20

It was another big night for Ma-Kaela Gidney, who went 8-for-19 on her way to 22 points. The matchup was her fourth in a row with at least 20 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Jada Powell, who posted nine points and eight rebounds.

When it comes to explaining why Mallard Creek lost, don't look at My'Asia Young. Despite the final result, she almost dropped a double-double with nine points and nine boards. Young has been hot for a while, having also posted two or more steals the last 11 times she's played. Another player making a difference was Sydney Mcguire, who had 11 points.

Hickory Ridge has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven games. That's provided a nice bump to their 21-8 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 66.3 points over those games. Mallard Creek's defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 25-4.

Looking ahead, Hickory Ridge will face off against Marvin Ridge at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Marvin Ridge knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past four contests -- so hopefully Hickory Ridge likes a good challenge. Mallard Creek does not have any more games scheduled as of now.