Ridge View sneaks past Westwood in late thriller, 70-66

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – On the same night that he was named Homecoming King, Adonis McDaniel carried Ridge View to 70-66 boys basketball victory over

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – On the same night that he was named Homecoming King, Adonis McDaniel carried Ridge View to 70-66 boys basketball victory over Westwood, in front of a sold-out crowd.

McDaniel had 16 points, 11 of which came in the second half. Joshua Smith also finished with ten fourth quarter points – including two 3-pointers.

“They’re our older guards,” said Ridge View head coach Joshua Staley. “That’s what we’ve been chirping at all year, trying to figure out consistency, trying to play through our older guys and letting our younger guys be our spark plugs. They stepped up and showed some maturity tonight.”

Ridge View head coach Joshua Staley provides Adonis McDaniel (2) some instructions during a timeout on Friday. McDaniel, on the same night he was named Homecoming King, scored 16 points, including 11 in the second half, to lead his team to victory / Photo by Dylan Jackson

Jayden Pretty led the Blazers in scoring, tallying 18 points. For Westwood, TJ Bell and KJ Rowan each finished in double figures, scoring 17 and 13 points respectively.

“They got a great coach,” said Staley. “They got a power five kid, and they got really good players around him.”

Arden Conyers, a 3-star commit to the University of South Carolina, started slow and picking up a few early fouls. After only three first half points, Conyers scored ten in the fourth quarter.

Friday’s win marks the second time Westwood has fallen to their cross-town rivals Ridge View this season.

“Everyone knows each other, everyone knows everyone,” said Staley. “We’re just out here trying to figure out a way to give ourselves a chance to be successful night in and night out.”

Jayden Pretty, who scored a team-high 18 points for Ridge View, prepares to take a free throw / Photo by Dylan Jackson

Ridge View closed the game on a 10-3 run, with key plays coming from both Smith and McDaniel.

Shot-making down the stretch is what won the Blazers the game.

We were able to make some shots, we have to find some consistency to continue to make shots down the stretch,” said Staley.

The win moved Ridge View to 13-11, with a 5-3 record in the 4A-5 region.

Westwood, on the other hand, moves to 11-13, with a 3-5 conference record.

“It’s a bunch of high-level coaches, a bunch of high level players, it’s hard getting wins,” said Staley of his conference.

Currently, there’s a 3-way tie in the region between Irmo, A.C. Flora, and Ridge View, all of whom are 5-3 in conference play.

Ridge View has two games remaining: Richland Northeast on Tuesday followed by A.C. Flora on Friday.

As for Westwood, they take on Irmo on Tuesday and Richland Northeast on Friday.

“It’s gonna be another battle, you gotta feel good about this tonight but gotta get ready for tomorrow,” said Staley.

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson

Photo by Dylan Jackson