Ripley’s quest for a state tournament berth was put to rest once again by the Patriots of George Washington last Wednesday, 87-61, in a AAA Region 3 Section 1 matchup.

The top-rated Pats (23-4) jumped out to an early 20-8 lead to start the game and carried the momentum through three straight quarters allowing Ripley (15-9) to come within just seven points before the half.

Trailing 32-13 at the five-minute mark, Ripley, behind the help of Chase Fischer, rallied 12 straight points to cut into the lead, 32-25 and end the half down nine, 36-27. Fischer netted ten consecutive points in the rally to add to his total of 37 for the night.

In the third, GW poured on 30 points to double-up the Viking output of 15, keeping the clamp on Ripley’s offense. Coach Harmon’s crew shot just 36-percent (22-61) from the floor and was seven-for-28 from three-point range. They finished the game 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

“We had a great year even if we didn’t finish where we wanted,” Coach Harmon said. “When you lose a Division-I player like Noah (Fischer), and one of the most underrated players in Seth Parsons, it can be hard to win in this league, but this team came together. They are a great group of kids who work hard and respect one another. I think we did more than anyone thought we could.”

Ripley was upended by G.W. in their first meeting of the season back in January 80-45. The Patriots, in a redo from last season, downed the Vikings, 58-52, following the blue crews’ first round sectional defeat of Parkersburg in March of 2009.

SCORING…
Fischer (37 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL), Cody Miller (10 PTS, 7 REB, AST), Kyle Harpold (6 PTS, 6 REB), Derek Mullins (5 PTS, 4 AST, 2 STL), Nick Barnette (2 PTS, 5 REB, AST, BLK), Garrett Reid (PT, 4 REB, 2 AST, BLK, STL), Blake Barnette (5 REB, AST, BLK).