Colonials down Ringgold boys
By JONATHAN GUTH
MVI Sports
Playing just its second game of the season, Ringgold led Albert Gallatin late in the first quarter, but an 11-0 run by the Colonials was the turning point in the Rams’ 62-33 setback on Monday at Albert Gallatin in Class 1-5A boys’ basketball action.
Due to a COVID-19 school shutdown, Ringgold (0-2, 0-1) and new head coach Eugene Wilson had limited practice time prior to its first game on Friday. Despite the obstacles, he was pleased with his team’s effort.
“Albert Gallatin is a talented team,” Wilson said. “To be honest with you, I thought we had an opportunity to at least make it tough for them. We came with the aggression I asked for in the first quarter, the guys were moving the ball around a little bit and we were playing tough. All I really ask of our guys is just to compete right now. We had minimal time together to get in a rhythm, but that’s no excuse.”
The first quarter had six lead changes, and the Rams had a 10-9 lead after Demetrius Butler scored on a runner before the Colonials’ Dylan Shea scored and teammate Nate English, fresh of recording his 1,000th career point on Saturday, scored on a spinning jump shot for a 13-10 advantage heading into the second.
Albert Gallatin (5-2, 3-1) scored the first seven points of the second to increase its lead to 20-10 with 2:58 remaining before halftime. AJ Blyden made 1 of 2 at the foul line and hit a jumper for three of his game-high 17 points, Ja’Shir Kean connected on a bank shot and Blyden used all 6-foot-7 of his frame to score inside.
Wilson was impressed with what he saw of Blyden, a transfer student from the Virgin Islands.
“When you talk about potential, that window for him is very wide open,” Wilson said. “If I was a low Division I school and I had some time to work with a guy like him, I definitely would. I would take a chance on him. He is long and very athletic, but also has a nice touch on his shot.”
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