The Ridgemont Golden Gophers will head out on the road to face off against the Upper Scioto Valley Rams at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Hopefully Ridgemont focused on turnovers this week since the team gave up 23 on Saturday.
Last Saturday, Ridgemont was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 42-37 to Vanlue.
Despite their defeat, Ridgemont saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Jayda Dondrea, who scored eight points along with 14 rebounds and four blocks, was perhaps the best of all. Dondrea hasn't dropped below eight rebounds for six straight games. Another player making a difference was Anna Ramsey, who scored 16 points.
Upper Scioto Valley can finally bid farewell to their five-game losing streak thanks to their game on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Lima Central Catholic 36-33. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory Upper Scioto Valley has posted yet this season.
Upper Scioto Valley's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Brielle Cotterman led the charge by dropping a double-double on ten points and 16 rebounds. Cotterman has been hot recently, having posted eight or more rebounds the last four times she's played. Layla Hunsicker was another key contributor, scoring seven points along with four steals.
Ridgemont's loss dropped their record down to 1-10. As for Upper Scioto Valley, their win ended a five-game drought on the road and puts them at 4-10.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Ridgemont have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 30 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Upper Scioto Valley, though, as they've been averaging only 22.7 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Ridgemont lost to Upper Scioto Valley on the road by a decisive 37-19 margin in their previous matchup back in February of 2023. Can Ridgemont avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
