West Ridge Wins Pair on Day Three of Food City Thanksgiving Classic

by STEVE WILMOTH

BLUFF CITY, Tenn. – Following an emotional victory with another contest less than 24 hours later is always a challenge.

That challenge was twofold for the West Ridge Wolves on Wednesday at the Food City Thanksgiving Classic.

Tuesday evening, the Wolves rallied for a 67-63 victory over Lakeway Christian in coach John Dyer’s return to the Dyer Dome.

Back on the court the next afternoon, West Ridge had to go to overtime to get past Mount Mission in an entertaining 85-77 win over the Challengers.

“It’s hard to get right back at it,” said Dyer. “But we hung in there and got the win.”

A few hours later down the street at Sullivan Middle School, the Wolves closed the day with a 70-57 decision over Tri-Cities Christian.

The Challengers certainly were that West Ridge, which led by ten at halftime and pushed the advantage to 47-33 early in the third quarter only to see the disruptive and unique style of Mount Mission begin to take its toll.

“Those guys are athletic as it gets and they do things differently,” noted Dyer. “They tested us. In our zone, they had five out and you can’t cover them. Hats off to Mount Mission, they played great.”

The Challengers rallied to take the game at 56-56 and then took a three-point lead on Imani ChaCha’s three-point play. The lead changed hands five times down the stretch before Mount Mission’s Cliff Gashumba tied the contest at 72-72 with 20 seconds to play.

Hoping for a second straight game-winner, West Ridge’s Wade Witcher’s putback was blocked at the buzzer forcing the extra session.

The Wolves dominated the extra four minutes, scoring the first six points and never looking back.

Witcher poured in 32 points for West Ridge with the expanded game of Will Harris accounting for 18 points. Mainly a dead-eye spot-up shooter for two season at Sullivan South, Harris displayed newly developed ball-handling and attacks of the rim against the Challengers that also produced three assists and 11 rebounds.

“Will made some really big plays for us,” added Dyer. “Made some big three’s made some good drives, good passes to Dawson (Arnold).”

Arnold finished with 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks while point guard Avery Horner pitched in with eight points and nine assists. Significant on the glass was sophomore Trey Frazier who also picked off 11 rebounds and tossed in six points.

“Trey helps us. His athleticism helps us,” continued Dyer.

ChaCha matched Witcher with 32 points for the Challengers. Abel Mesfin added 23 points, but fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Witcher dropped another 29 in the nightcap as the Wolves pulled away from a one-point halftime edge by outscoring the Eagles 33-21 in the final two periods. Arnold scored another 15 points and Horne added ten.

Abraham Gewelks led the Eagles with 22 points. Lofton Looney came through with 12 and Braxtoon Dixon pitched in with nine.

West Ridge (5-1) has completed its assignments in the classic The Wolves are off until hosting Tennessee High on Friday, December 2. Tri-Cities Christian will face Volunteer Friday at 1:00 p.m.

West Ridge 85, Mount Mission 77

WEST RIDGE (85) – Avery Horne 4-7 0-0 8, Wade Witcher 12-21 3-3 32, Will Harris 7-15 0-0 18, Parker Leming 1-3 0-0 3, Dawson Arnold 4-7 7-7 15, Houston Sherfey 1-4 0-0 3, Eli Bright 0-0 0-0 0, Trey Frazier 2-4 2-4 6, Sawyer Tate 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 31-61 12-14 85.

MOUNT MISSION (77) – Kaab Dawit 1-4 0-0 3, Alexanda Hyakemori 1-4 0-0 2, Cliff Gashumba 5-11 2-3 13, Imani Chacha 11-24 4-5 32, Abel Mesfin 9-12 0-1 23, Leule Sahlea 2-5 0-0 5, Emmanuel Maginga 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 29-60 6-9 77.

Three-Pointers – West Ridge 11-24 (Horne 0-1, Witcher 5-10, Sherfey 1-3, Harris 4-7, Frazier 0-1, Leming 1-2), Mount Mission 13-31 (Dawit 1-4, Nyakemori 0-2, Gashumba 0-1, Chacha 6-14, Mesfin 5-7, Sahlea 1-3). Rebounds – West Ridge 44 (Frazier 11, Harris 11, Witcher 8, Arnold 6, Leming 3, Horne 3), Mount Mission 32 (Chacha 8, Dawit 8, Mesfin 6, Gashumba 5). Assists – West Ridge 17 (Horne 9, Haris 3, Leming 2), Mount Mission 15 (Chacha 5, Dawit 5, Mesfin 2, Gashumba 2). Steals – West Ridge 6 (Witcher 4), Mount Mission 6 (Mesfin 3). Blocks – West Ridge 4 (Arnold 2), Mount Mission 4 (Gashumba 2). Turnovers – West Ridge 21, Mount Mission 17.

West Ridge 70, Tri-Cities Christian 57

TRI-CITIES CHRISTIAN (57) – Lofton Looney 5-14 2-2 12, Braxton Dixon 4-9 0-0 9, Josiah Dixon 0-3 0-0 0, Abraham Gewelke 8-15 1-1 22, Cole Fox 0-0 0-0 0, Michael Gewelke 1-1 0-0 3, Daniel Owen 0-1 0-0 0, Seth Britton 0-3 2-2 2, Lane McMullen 0-1 0-0 0, Josh White 3-3 0-0 6, Gabe Rosenbalm 1-4 0-0 3, Totals 22-54 5-5 57.

WEST RIDGE (70) – Avery Horne 3-7 3-3 10, Wade Witcher 8-17 9-10 29, Houston Sherfey 2-4 0-0 6, Will Harris 3-9 0-0 7, Eli Bright 0-0 0-0 0, Trey Frazier 0-3 0-0 0, Parker Leming 1-3 0-0 3, Sawyer Tate 0-2 0-0 0, Dawson Arnold 7-9 1-3 15, Totals 24-54 13-16 70.

Three-Pointers – Tri-Cities Christian 8-22 (Looney 0-2, B. Dixon 1-4, J. Dixon 0-3, A. Gewelke 5-7, M. Gewelke 1-1, Owen 0-1, Britton 0-3), West Ridge 9-23 (Horne 1-4, Witcher 4-6, Sherfey 2-4, Harris 1-6, Leming 1-3).