RIDGEFIELD — With a roster filled with new and unproven talent, the Ridgefield boys basketball team wasn’t entirely sure who would step up.
On Tuesday, it was senior and first-year varsity player Kade Ramey.
Ramey, who is tasked with stepping into a leadership role despite being among the least varsity experienced of Ridgefield’s seven seniors, hit key shots and late free throws to help the Spudders hang on to beat La Center 56-55 in a non-league game at Ridgefield High School.
“We’ve got great chemistry,” Ramey said. “We’ve got a lot of trust in each other. I’ve got my teammates backs, they’ve got mine.”
The Spudders move to 4-1 on the season, much to the surprise — and joy — of head coach Jason Buffum.
“If you would have told me we’d be 4-1 at this stretch of the season, I probably would have told you that you’re crazy,” Buffum said. “How we’ve got there is winning close games. That’s something we pride ourselves on.”
Ramey finished with a team-high 16 points — nine in the fourth quarter — and Cameron Short added 12 for the Spudders.
The trio of Avery Seter, Matt Bryant and Hunter Ecklund combined for 48 points for the Wildcats (1-3).
It’s no surprise the game came down to the last possession. Ridgefield led by seven at half and the lead never stretched to double digits. La Center held a two-point lead with around five minutes left in a fourth quarter that went back and forth like a seesaw.
Ramey hit a jumper and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to push the Spudders up five. La Center’s Ecklund then finished a layup at the rim through contact, and junior Bryant hit a three from the top of the key to tie with 2:15 left, forcing Ridgefield to call time.
“We wouldn’t even be in the game if (Ramey) doesn’t make those plays,” Buffum said. “He’s worked really hard to get himself in basketball shape, get in the gym, and he’s a great example of putting time in and it paying off.”
La Center forced two key turnovers to keep within striking distance.
With just under a minute to play, Ecklund stole the ball on a Ridgefield fast break, advanced the length of the court and missed a transition layup at the rim. Bryant leapt up for the put-back, missed and grabbed the rim on the way down. Officials called a technical foul, to which Ramey sunk two free throws that put the Spudders up 56-53.
“I didn’t see it, by (La Center’s) reaction I’m guessing it was questionable,” Buffum said.
A Ridgefield turnover and missed free throw gave La Center two chances at a game-tying look, but both missed.
“This is two games in a row now where we’ve done a lot not to win and still pulled it out,” Buffum said. “At some point we’ve got to figure out how to close games out (earlier), and we’ll get there.
“Resilient teams pull out victories in the end whether you make great plays or not.”
