Ridge Loses on the Road to Hillsborough, 67 – 58

Despite Frisoli's team-high 26 points, the Ridge Red Devils couldn't get passed the Hillsborough Raiders on Thursday – losing 67 – 58.

Cefalo had his best scoring game of the season, dropping 22 points to go with 4 assists and 7 rebounds. Skea grabbed 7 rebounds, but a second quarter fall took him out of the scoring game as he managed only 3 points.

Hillsborough out muscled Ridge, using their greater size to keep Ridge on the perimeter, not allowing a single Devil to the free throw line until Conor Skea hit Ridge's first in the fourth quarter.

Frisoli taught Hillsborough to not leave him open, scoring Ridge's first 12 points from four three-point shots. However, Hillsborough learned quickly and came back to take the first quarter 21 – 15.

Ridge seemed to be taken by surprise by such penetrating offense. Hillsborough big men Frank Mitchell and Kyle Banfield, who both finished with 14 points, took advantage of Ridge's smaller team, aggressively attacking the basket.

The Raider's Steve Schrum heated up in the second quarter, hitting three long-range three pointers in a row before Ridge could answer back.

In an unfortunate incident, Conor Skea fell to the floor in the second quarter, hitting his head in the process. After being checked out by a trainer, he returned to the game but remained relatively quiet.

Frisoli led his team back to close the deficit to four points at the half, hitting two more three-pointers and a daring jumper from the right side of the paint. Down 31 – 27 at the half, Ridge knew they needed better defense in the third.

The Devils answered the call, outscoring the Raiders 15 – 13 in the third quarter to send both teams into a fight to the finish in the fourth. JB Kole hit a vital shot and grabbed strong rebounds in the third to help Ridge climb back.

With a fourth quarter final showdown set with the third quarter ending 44 – 42, Hillsborough's sixth man, their fans intensified the atmosphere with incessant jeering and cheering.

The Raiders answered their fans call, closing the game on a 23 – 16 scoring streak to hand Ridge only their second loss of the season.

Head coach Mark Taylor was disappointed in his defense. "The reason Ridge has been so good in the past is we play well as team, especially on defense" he said after the game, "and tonight we just didn't do that."

Hopefully the Devils with come together before tomorrow'sgame against Vernon, which will be at Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 9.