Butler, Peccon lead Rams over Wolverines

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com

Ringgold’s entire Friday got off to a bit of a shaky start. First, it was the team wondering if it was even going to get to play their senior night game after West Mifflin abruptly canceled.
Then after learning Woodland Hills was going to step in and fill West Mifflin’s role, the Rams got off to a slow start.
But Ringgold shook out the cobwebs and dropped 41 points in the second half to claim a 53-43 win over the Wolverines to send four seniors out with a special senior night.
“We’re not going to make excuses for starting slow. I thought everyone did a great job throughout the day communicating what was going on between the administration, (AD) Laura Grimm and the team,” Rams head coach Eugene Wilson said. “We were just ineffective in everything we were doing. But we had enough time to maintain our poise and we had our leaders step up.”
Those two leaders, Demetrius Butler and Nick Peccon stepped up in big ways. Butler ended the night with 25 points and Peccon finished with 20 to help carry the Rams (2-4) to the win after the team only scored 12 points in the first half.
“I thought the difference was the ninth graders. Those guys like Daryl Tolliver and Ryan Pajak,” Wilson said. “They came in and really changed the pace of the game, especially on the defensive end. In doing that, it really pushed the other guys. Those younger guys come in and do exactly what they’re told to do.”
Both teams struggled in the first half as the Wolverines led 14-12 after two quarters. Numerous turnovers and the inability to finish plays at the rim contributed to the low scoring.
In the second half, Okil Freeman, who led WH with 13, scored five of his team’s first 10 points as the Wolverines built their lead to 24-18 with 5:35 to go.
“We wanted to come out and get off to a good start in the second half,” Wilson said. “We needed to put together a run of like six or eight points. It took a little longer than we would have liked, but we were able to get going.”
After Freeman’s layup extended the lead to six, the Rams closed out the third quarter by outscoring Woodland Hills, 11-3.
Peccon scored five of those points and Butler added four as the pair started heating up to give the Rams their first lead of the game, 29-27.
Micah Jones scored with less than three seconds remaining in the period to tie things at 29.
“At halftime, Demetrius said everything that needed to be said,” Wilson added. “He told the team they were playing scared, playing soft. And I agreed with him. He’s really turned into the leader we need him to be and him and Nick really feed off each other when they get going.”
In the fourth quarter, it was all Ringgold as the Rams outscored the Wolverines, 15-2, over the first 3:30.
The springboard was the defensive pressure, forcing a number of Woody High turnovers leading to easy transition points.
Butler scored the first six of the frame.
Baskets by Peccon and a jumper by Tolliver made it 44-31 with 4:30 to play.
“Nick really gets going when the tempo is up and he starts knocking down some shots,” Wilson said. “Cam (Halushka) didn’t score but he was a big part of things for us, too.
“In the end, though, it’s Meech (Butler) beginning to embrace that leadership role. He’s slowly understanding his role. We watched some film and I sent him some clips of my old point guards. Instead of waiting for me to call plays, I want him to tell me what he’s seeing on the floor and he’s getting more comfortable calling things himself.”
The two teams exchanged baskets throughout the remainder of the game as the Wolverines (0-6) were able to cut the lead to 50-43 with a minute to go. Butler and Peccon combined to go 3 of 4 from the line to put the game out of reach in the waning seconds.
“You can see the confidence going up,” Wilson said. “Getting to play this game is another opportunity for these guys to continue getting better. That’s what we want and that’s how we want to build the program.”
Ringgold is back in action Monday at Laurel Highlands.

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