Matt Gama made a driving basket as time expired to send the Ridgefield boys basketball team to a 45-44 win over R.A. Long on Saturday night in Longview.
“Our first lead of the game came at the buzzer,” Ridgefield coach Jason Buffum said.
After trailing by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, Ridgefield cut R.A. Long’s lead to 42-40 with less than a minute to play.
The Lumberjacks hit two free throws to go up 44-40 with 40 seconds left, but the Spudders answered back with a 3-pointer with with 26 to play, making it 44-43.
Ridgefield fouled again with 16 seconds left. This time, R.A. Long missed the front end of a 1-and-1. The Spudders got the rebound and called timeout at halfcourt with 5.5 seconds to play.
“We set up our play, got the ball to Matt Gama, who made a spin move to the hoop and layed it in at the buzzer,” Buffum said.
Josh Mansur scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half to help rally Ridgefield.
“This was a resilient victory for our guys on the road,” Buffum said. “We dropped a tough at home the other night, and we knew we needed a win to stay in the playoff hunt. … You always want the ball at the end with a chance to win. We called a play we’ve been practicing, ran it well and it all worked out.”
— Ridgefield Athletics (@RHSSpudders) January 6, 2019
RIDGEFIELD 45, R.A. LONG 44
RIDGEFIELD — Carson Knight 2, Nick Jenkins 4, Josh Mansur 18, Stefan Vossenkuhl 7, Tyler Poorman 0, Matt Gama 6, James Corey 6, Curren Whitsitt 0. Totals 16 (2) 11-14 45.
R.A. LONG — Ryan Plampin 5, Dana Cathcart 6, Cameron Holden 10, Jacob Thompson 12, Jamond Harris 8, Tristen Arruda 0, Jadon Williamson 0, Kevin Barnett 3. Totals 14 (7) 9-17 44.
Ridgefield 14 4 9 18–45
RA Long 16 10 10 8–44
JV — Ridgefield 53-48. C — Ridgefield won.
