South Ridge Picks Up First Win In Dramatic Fashion

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Dec 9, 2011

Kerry Rodd-NSO

It was a wild finish, but in the end the South Ridge Panthers boys basketball team won their first game in school history on Friday night when they beat Nashwauk-Keewatin 71-70 in a back-and-forth affair.

After falling behind 43-29 at halftime the Panthers rallied to an improbable win that was solidified when N-K missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw situation with only five seconds remaining. Things ended when Dan Wood got the rebound and was tied up by a N-K player forcing a jump ball call that went in favor of the Panthers. South Ridge called a time out and eventually managed to inbound a pass that effectively ended the affair.

Wood finished with a game high 27 points for the Panthers, while Dominic Janke added 17, Robbie McQuade scored 14, Kody Karppinen finished with 12 and it was a point for Drew Janke for South Ridge.

N-K got some balanced scoring of their own from Anthony Aresen who had 18 points, Josh Engel and Chris Meadows who finished with 14 and Jordan Peratalo chipped in with 15 points.

The Panthers, who had to fight from the 14-point halftime deficit, finally got within two points with just over four minutes remaining. Nashwauk-Keewatin got their final field goal of the game with 3:34 remaining, but that would be it for them the rest of the way other than a pair of free throws. Neither team scored over the final 55 seconds which was a helter skelter finish to the end.

Also scoring for N-K were A.J. Emanuel with eight points and Tom Fillman, who had a pair of points.

South Ridge was formed this year when AlBrook High School and Cotton High School were combined into one high school on the south end of St. Louis County.

The Panthers will be back in action on Monday when they travel to another newly re-named school, Northeast Range. For anyone wanting to check out the Panthers new facilities, they will be home hosting Ely on Dec 20 after a road game at Wrenshall on Dec 15.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com