The River Ridge girls’ basketball team will be hosting region rival Sequoyah on Monday, Jan. 22. These teams have already faced each other this season on Dec. 5 with a 25-point third quarter leading River Ridge to a dominant 68-43 win.
Lady Knights go into the War Lodge and come out with a 68-43 region win over Sequoyah for the first region win of the year.@kkcleav41 19pts; 3ast@MakRob14 15pts; 2stl@SophiaPearl2025 11pts; 6ast; 5reb;6stl@AllieSweet05 11pts; 19reb; 4ast
— River Ridge Girls Basketball (@rrknightsgbb) December 6, 2023
A key factor in the win was River Ridge’s ability to attack the basket, generating a dominant advantage at the free throw line where they went 15-21 compared to Sequoyah who went 3-4. The upcoming matchup next Monday has large implications within Region 6-6A, as No. 1 ranked River Ridge enters the game with a perfect 6-0 region record, while Sequoyah is battling Etowah and Rome for second place with a region record of 4-2. A win for Sequoyah could prove instrumental to its playoff seeding, while a win for River Ridge would keep the Knights on track for one of their most dominant seasons yet. Sequoyah fell 51-41 to Etowah on Jan. 9, and will host the Eagles on Feb. 2 after visiting Rome on Jan. 30.
River Ridge’s amazing start to its season has not come as a surprise, as the Knights won the 6A State Championship last year and have retained much of its core that led them there. The successes of recent years allowed the Knights to be invited to the Kruel Classic in mid-December in Ft. Lauderdale. At this event, River Ridge played former state champions and contenders from all over the southeast. The Knights’ two games in the tournament were against Blanche Ely of Pompano Beach, FL and St. Thomas Aquinas of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. While both games unfortunately ended in defeat, the River Ridge girls showed resilience, as they took three-time consecutive, reigning Florida State Champions St. Thomas Aquinas to double overtime. Despite the team’s valiant efforts, they lost in heartbreaking fashion, by one point (82-81, 2OT).
River Ridge’s 13-4 start can be massively credited to its ability to win at opponent’s courts. Throughout their 17 games, the Knights have reached an impressive 7-0 record away from home. The ability to rally themselves and stay composed in hostile territory has been a key reason for the Knights’ success this year and years past. In its state championship run last year, River Ridge was a staggering 10-1 in away matchups, which the Knights are on pace for this year as well. River Ridge has clearly found a championship winning formula that rides the coattails of its success on the road.
Sequoyah on the other hand, is off to an impressive start to its season, holding a 13-5 record, one that is on pace to blow last year’s 19-12 record out of the water. Led by junior center Milanni Abdus-Salaam, who is leading the team in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, blocks per game and field goal percentage, this year’s Sequoyah team is a real force in Region 6-6A.
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