ORANGE PARK – One quick look around the Panthers Den and you will see banners hanging from the rafters or walls representing district or conference championships won in football, baseball, softball, track, cross country, tennis, boys soccer, girls soccer, wrestling, volleyball and boys basketball; however one notable sport has always been missing – until now.
Opened in 1999, Ridgeview has had a lot of success in several sports but girls basketball was never one of those – until now.
A new banner will be added to the wall and be displayed finally. pic.twitter.com/8pFN3LA5aw
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) February 6, 2019
Seniors Hannah Foster, Brittany Sutton and Heavun McCarver were not even born when Ridgeview opened but the threesome were fully aware of the schools lack of success in girls basketball and were eager to change that.
Second seeded and host Ridgeview secured its first ever playoff berth with a 57-47 win over third seeded and nemesis Westside in the District 4-6A semifinals.
Fourth year head coach Trent Gilford has done a remarkable job this season turning around a program that was the constant bottom feeder in the district and turning it into the schools first ever postseason berth.
That’s not to say Ridgeview hasn’t been close to ending the streak, as the last two years Westside ended the Panthers season in the district semifinals including a 49-30 loss last year.
After back-to-back six wins seasons and one win away each of the last two seasons from ending the streak, the Panthers were even more determined to get a little revenge but they knew it would be anything but easy after a pair of three point wins over the Wolverines during the regular season.
The starting five for Ridgeview pic.twitter.com/veyVOt93xX
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) February 6, 2019
Junior guard Trenity Gilford, daughter of coach Gilford, took it upon herself to ensure she and the rest of the teammates left the court with not only a win but making history as well.
Gilford scored 12 of the first 14 points for Ridgeview as the Panthers jumped out to a 14-4 lead, that ended with a 21-4 lead after the first quarter. Solid defense led to easy transition baskets for Gilford in the first quarter and through out the game as the Panthers picked apart the Wolverines.
“I was just thinking I’m trying to make history tonight, if you look around you don’t see any banners around here for girls basketball,” Gilford said. ”
As the second quarter started, Westside continued its cold shooting and Ridgeview continued where they left off with easy layups and uncontested shots.
“I was thinking lets make our run get out to a lead, but lets also don’t get complacent either, don’t play like it over,” coach Trent Gilford said.
While Trenity Gilford was the go to player on offense, she wasn’t alone as others stepped up and contributed as well including key three-pointers from Sutton and assists from Foster.
Like they do on the football field, Foster, who is the quarterback on the girls flag football team, directed the offense on the court including several deep passes to her go to wide receiver Gilford for easy layups.
Down 17 for most of the first half, Westside began to get a bit irritated and began to play a lot more aggressive. One particular Wolverine player went as far as to try to trip a Ridgeview player, which would normally result in a foul or even a technical foul, but the official didn’t call a foul and just went up the player and told them that was unacceptable; later a Wolverine player closed line a Panther player going up for a rebound.
Sutton nailed a three pointer to put the Panthers up by 20, while Gilford nailed a three pointer herself to give the Panthers their biggest lead at 21 points helping Ridgeview go into the half with a 37-18 halftime lead.
Leading by as much as 21, the last thing Gilford wanted his girls to do was come complacent and lose hold of their lead and lose sight on the goal.
Sloppy play but Ridgeview takes a 46-32 lead over Westside into the fourth. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/XWNpooHSWi
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) February 6, 2019
Down 17 heading into the fourth quarter, Westside came out with a different attitude and more of a sense of urgency as the Wolverines began slowly clawing their way back in it. A 18-6 run to start the fourth helped the Wolverines cut the lead down to five as Ridgeview was clinging to a 52-47 lead with three minutes remaining in the game.
That’s when Gilford came through with a game clinching play as Feyona St. German grabbed a defensive rebound and threw a long pass down the other side of the court to a wide open Gilford for an easy layup and 54-47 lead with 2:01 left in the game.
“That play was very big for us, it kept us ahead and allowed us to make history,” Trenity Gilford said.
The play not only stopped the run but also seemed to take the energy out of the Wolverines (14-6) as well as freshman Alyssa Sherman sank two free throws for a 10 point lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“This is awesome, we’ve been at the bottom of the district and now were finally at the top making history and I’m so happy for the girls they will never be able to take this away,” head coach Trent Gilford said.
Gilford pointed out key contributions from Foster and Sutton, a four year varsity player as big reasons for the Panthers success. He also mentioned Alyssa who played with a hurt ankle but came up clutch as well as German who he said was the anchor of the team.
As huge as the win was for the Panthers, there is still more goals to accomplish as they host the District 4-6A championship game Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Orange Park.
Top seeded Orange Park cruised to the district title game with a 57-30 win over fifth seeded Baker County in the first semi final game at Ridgeview. The Raiders jumped out a to 20 point lead and never look back in the easy win to clinch a playoff bid for the second straight year.
Orange Park cruising to the district finals up 49-27 over Baker County with 5:23 left in the game. Nice post move leads to two points for @IceColeHoops @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/qyYKuRRq0j
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) February 5, 2019
Ridgeview (15-6) will try to do something they haven’t been able to do all season and that’s beat Orange Park after a pair of 40 plus point losses to their arch-rivals during the regular season. The Raiders (21-5) are the only thing standing in their way of the programs first ever district title as well.
“We will have to try stretch them out and we must be able to get inside the post to win,” coach Trent Gilford said.
