Men's basketball: Ridgewater lets one get away
WILLMAR — Everything unraveled for the Ridgewater men’s basketball team in the final four minutes of its game against Anoka-Ramsey on Wednesday.
The Warriors led the entire game — by as many as 15 points in the second half — but went cold late and fell 60-57 at the Ridgewater gym.
“We played the first half like we wanted to win,” said Warriors head coach Bob Knutson, “and we played the second half like we were trying not to lose. We didn’t shoot well and they got us.”
The Warriors, now 6-7 in the MCAC Southern Division, are tied with Anoka-Ramsey for third place and Riverland and Minnesota West are right there, too. The top four division teams earn post-season spots.
“(A win) would have locked us in at third place,” said Knutson, whose team finishes the regular season at M-State-Fergus Falls on Saturday. “Now, it’s going to be a logjam.”
The Warriors’ shot led by seven at half and held a 48-33 advantage early in the second half. But they shot just 26 percent in the second half.
Melvin Kromah led the Warriors with 20 points and Terrance Lockett had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.
Zak Pendleton hit three of the Warriors’ four 3-point shots and finished with 12 points, and Neil Helgeson scored 8.
The Warriors hit just 4 of 23 3-point shots and were outscored 30-12 from 3-point range.
Anoka-Ramsey 60, Ridgewater 57
Anoka-Ram. (6-7, 14-12) 24 36 — 60
Ridgewater (6-7, 12-14) 31 26 — 57
ANOKA-RAMSEY – 20-59 FG (10-23 3-pt); 10-20 FT; 43 rebounds; 18 fouls … Scoring: Devontray Heard 4, Montez Wilkerson 14, Lucas Barraud 15, Joe Lyson 13, Perri Vaden 5, Mustapha Sanneh 2, Brian Sarvela 7 … 3-point shots: Wikerson 4, Barraud 2, Lyson 3, Heard 1 … Rebound leaders: Vaden 7 … Assist leaders: Barraud 5 … Steal leaders: Sam Willis 2
RIDGEWATER COLLEGE – 17-53 FG (4-23 3-pt); 19-26 FT; 40 rebounds; 19 fouls … Scoring: Zak Pendleton 12, Melvin Kromah 20, Neil Helgeson 8, Terrance Lockett 10, Jordan Schwarz 4, Jeremy Olson 3 … 3-point shots: Pendleton 3, Helgeson 1 … Rebound leaders: Lockett 11, Kromah 7, Beau Herrig 7 … Assist leaders: Lockett 5 … Steal leaders: Helgeson 2, Lockett 2
