Warriors Rally Late to Top Shroder in Mountain Schoolboy Classic

In the Mountain Schoolboy Classic on Wednesday, the East Ridge Warriors squared off with the Shroder Jaguars from Cincinnati in a tightly contested matchup that featured multiple lead changes and a dramatic finish.

Shroder grabbed an early edge in the opening quarter, holding a slim 15–13 advantage after one. The Jaguars continued to build momentum in the second quarter, stretching the lead to five points by halftime. Despite the deficit, East Ridge remained within striking distance behind senior Gavin Damron, who scored 13 of his team-high 20 points in the first half.

The Warriors struggled to fully close the gap coming out of the break and trailed by four points entering the final quarter. Defense became the turning point in the fourth, as East Ridge forced key stops down the stretch.

With 1:50 remaining, Shroder converted its final basket to take a 64–62 lead. After East Ridge came up empty on its next possession, freshman Canaan Ramey delivered the game’s biggest play—jumping a passing lane, taking the steal coast to coast, and finishing at the rim to tie the game at 64.

From there, the Warriors showed poise at the free-throw line. Damron and sophomore Ayden Mullins knocked down clutch free throws in the closing seconds, sealing a 66–64 East Ridge victory. It was Damron’s offensive fire power and clutch play down the stretch that earned him the Surplus Products Player of the game honors.