By Tom Rohrer
After a dominating third quarter, it appeared the River Ridge girls basketball team was in control.
Facing off against Aberdeen in a 2A District IV loser-out game at W.F. West High School, the Hawks extended a single digit halftime lead into a 37-23 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. While River Ridge would eventually win 50-42, Aberdeen made it extremely difficult.
Up 22-15 at the half, River Ridge went on a 10-2 run to start the third quarter, punishing the Bobcats on the glass and through a stifling full-court press.
Despite the deficit, Aberdeen would not give in to the Hawks wishes to break the game even more wide open.
The Bobcats went on an 11-1 run to start the fourth quarter, cutting the River Ridge lead to four at 38-34.
Emily Fisher’s pair of three pointers sparked the Bobcats run and the senior combo-guard finished 16 points in her final game.
Much like the first quarter, when she scored the Hawks first six points of the game, senior post Rebecca Stevenson was the focal point offensively for River Ridge following the Aberdeen run.
Stevenson, who finished with 17 points, knocked home a step back jumper to extend River Ridge’s lead to seven with 3:55 left in the game.
Senior guard Jazzlyn Brewster knocked home a lay in plus the foul shot with 1:47 remaining, giving River Ridge a 46-38 lead and effectively dismantling the Aberdeen comeback effort.
Brewster totaled nine points while junior post Savannah McGill notched 11 points. McGill was the only other River Ridge player to score in double figures.
Along with Fisher’s output, Aberdeen received a strong contribution from Kiana Dixon, who scored 15 points in her last game in a Bobcat uniform.
With the win, another elimination game appears on the horizon for River Ridge. The Hawks will face-off against Black Hills on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. inside the now familiar W.F. West gymnasium.
The Hawks and the Wolves split their two regular season meetings.
