Blue Ridge Girls Basketball Opens Conference Season with Loss in Ridgeview

Updated November 29 at 11:46 a.m.

COLFAX, Ill. -- Korrie Gilbert, Jacquelyn O'Neal, Melinda Wilson and Gabby Pearl each scored in double digits for the Lady Knights.

It was not enough, however, as the Mustangs took a 27-21 lead at halftime and held on from there for a 52-47 Heart of Illinois Conference victory over Blue Ridge.

"I think we did an awesome job," Blue Ridge coach Stephanie Schroeder said. "We could've very easily been beaten by a lot more, and we fought hard and we kept our heads up and did a lot of good things. We need to work on a few things, but overall, I think they played a really good game."

In the first half, Gilbert (pictured above) led the Lady Knights in scoring with eight points, including two 3-pointers, to keep her team in the game.

She finished the game with a team-high 13 points.

In the second half, Blue Ridge started with a 6-0 run that tied the game at 27-27 in the third quarter. They tied the game with an O'Neal basket that was assisted by Wilson.

O'Neal and Wilson scored 12 points each. O'Neal (pictured above) and Wilson scored eight and seven of their points in the second half, respectively.

O'Neal also grabbed 16 rebounds.

Megan Jones helped Ridgeview regain the lead at 30-27 with a 3-pointer. Then Pearl, who finished the game with 10 points, turned the Lady Knights' 30-28 deficit into a 32-30 lead with a couple of baskets in the third quarter.

However, Jones hit one of her four 3-pointers to give her team the lead at 33-32.

After Ridgeview gained a 42-32 lead in the fourth quarter, the Lady Knights went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 44-40. Gilbert and Wilson (pictured below) each hit a 3-pointer in that run.

The run ended when Jenna Ayers stole the ball from Gilbert and scored on a fastbreak layup with 3:49 left in the game.

"We picked up the intensity a little bit [in the second half]," Schroeder said. "We knew we could play with them; it was just that we couldn't hold onto that lead. They're a good shooting team. There's not a whole lot you can do with good shooting except try to get the rebounds and hope [the shots] don't go in."

With the loss, Blue Ridge falls to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the HOIC. They will travel to Tremont for another conference showdown on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Lady Knights' junior varsity team lost 30-2. Miranda Gillis scored Blue Ridge's only basket.

Ridgeview 52, Blue Ridge 47

Blue Ridge (47)

Jeana Cheek 0 0-0 0, Jacquelyn O'Neal 6 0-1 12, Korrie Gilbert 5 0-0 13, Ashley Spicer 0 0-0 0, Melinda Wilson 4 1-2 12, Liz Cordes 0 0-0 0, Bailey Clancy 0 0-0 0, Gabby Pearl 5 0-0 10, Jamison Brandt 0 0-0 0, Breanna Watterson 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 1-3 47.

Ridgeview (52)

Rachel Bradd 1 0-0 2, Jenna Ayers 4 1-5 9, Hallie Johnson 4 0-1 8, Kelsie Cedeno 0 0-0 0, Kelli Richards 1 0-0 2, Ashley Benton 0 0-0 0, Lexi Stubblefield 0 0-0 0, Maddie Huff 0 0-0 0, Paige Jones 3 0-0 6, Megan Jones 6 3-4 19, Rachelle Weber 2 2-2 6, Mikayla Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Dani Washington 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 6-12 52.

Blue Ridge    9    12    11    15    -- 47

Ridgeview    15    12    10    15    -- 52

3-pointers -- Blue Ridge 6 (Gilbert 3, Wilson 3). Ridgeview 4 (M. Jones 4).