High Schools |  Galleries |  Recruiting |  Baseball |  Baseball Stats |  Basketball |  Basketball Stats |  Softball |  Softball Stats |  Football |  Football Stats |  Golf |  Hockey |  Soccer |  Swimming |  Tennis |  Track |  Volleyball |  Wrestling |  Other

By Jeff Oliver

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Saturday, December 8, 2012

It's not too often that both coaches have a smile on their faces after a game.

But that's what happened Friday night at Ringgold after the host Rams defeated Charleroi, 60-42, in the season opener for both teams.

Ringgold coach Pete Logan was happy because his team got off to a quick start, forced plenty of Charleroi turnovers early and never gave up control of the game after grabbing the early lead.

Charleroi coach Bill Wiltz was pleased because he said his team did what it needed to do, but just suffered from a case of the first-game jitters, as well as trying to deal with the speedy, pressing Rams.

Ringgold jumped out to an 8-1 lead 2:40 into the game and when John Maldonado drained a three-pointer with 2:18 to play in the quarter, the lead was 16-3.

Maldonado, who led Ringgold with a game-high 22 points, hit four treys in the first half as he scored 14 of his points.

“We're going to depend on both John and Dayshore (Majors) early on until the rest of the players get up to speed,” said Logan. “But it's no doubt John had the hot hand for us tonight.”

Meanwhile, the Rams limited Charleroi to just five field goals in the first half as the hosts took a comfortable 36-20 lead into halftime.

“Actually, I thought we played pretty well,” Wiltz said. “I think we were a little nervous and our shots didn't fall. I know we are a better shooting team than we showed in the first half.

“And Ringgold has a lot of speed, more than we will see in most of our games. This was a good first game for us and I'm pleased.”

Ringgold's biggest lead of the night was 22 points in the third quarter when Demetrius Louis scored with 4:04 to play in the stanza to make it 44-22.

However, the Cougars did battle back to cut the deficit to 12 points twice after that, but could get no closer.

“In the second half, I think we got away from the things we did in the first half and quit trusting each other,” said Logan. “I told the players we have to develop that trust and I think we will in time. Overall, I was happy.”

While Maldonado was the lone Ram in double figures, Charleroi was paced by Jim Diaz and Eric Johnson with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Jeff Oliver is a sports editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2666 or joliver@tribweb.com.

1. Jack Wagner concedes to Pittsburgh mayoral challenger Bill Peduto
2. Steelers notebook: Less talk, more work is Tomlin’s theme
3. Penguins notebook: Morrow leaves practice with injury
4. Child killed in East Hills shooting
5. Kovacevic: Why did Pens even get Iginla?
6. Coach Tomlin, Steelers facing plenty of questions as OTAs start
7. Suicide stuns visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral
8. Senators notebook: Pens' Crosby has defensive shadows
9. Pirates notebook: Penguins jerseys in fashion for road trip
10. Grim search, rescue efforts from twister near end in Oklahoma
11. Bin Laden photos to remain classified

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.