MINERAL RIDGE Rally leads Bristol past Rams

The Panthers outscored Mineral Ridge 16-6 in the second quarter.
By SAL MARINO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Bristol and Mineral Ridge combined for 49 3-point shot attempts, but the Panthers had much better success, hitting 9-of-31 to beat the Rams 80-62 Friday.
Mineral Ridge managed to sink only 1-of-18 tries.
"We gambled man-to-man tonight to force turnovers, but we came up short" Mineral Ridge coach Del Ruiter said. "Our kids did well.
"They are well coached and deserved to win," Ruiter said. "When Bristol started converting their 3-pointers that pretty well did it."
Mineral Ridge took a 20-12 lead in the first quarter by taking advantage of many Bristol turnovers.
"We played ugly in the first half," Bristol coach Scott Groves said. "I want to see 90 percent 3-point shots and layups. When we do fall behind our kids don't worry."
Malachi Hall scored five of his 12 points, including a 3-pointer, in the first eight minutes.
The Rams led just 22-21 midway through the second period, when Bristol's Craig Geisy made the third of his five 3-pointers to put Bristol ahead.
The teams exchanged leads until Bristol closed out the half leading 28-26.
Back and forth: In the third quarter, the game was tied four more times. David Colley of the Panthers made two straight field goals to give his team a 38-34 lead.
Mineral Ridge came right back to tie it again, 44-44, behind baskets from Kevin Garland, who had 13 points for the contest.
Bristol then went on an 11-4 run to give the Panthers a 55-48 margin heading into the final period.
The Panthers sealed the win with a 25-14 run.
Geisy paced Bristol with 22 points. John King added 16, Colley had 12 and Ben Inhoff finished with 11.
Garland led the Rams with 13 points.
Mineral Ridge grabbed 37 rebounds with Judson Williamson and Garland pulling down eight apiece.
"We are lucky to get out with a win," Groves said.