CLARKSBURG -- Shawna Wolfe picked a good time to make her only field goal of the game, because it was the game-winner.
Wolfe fired in a 3-pointer from the right corner with 1:06 to play to give Ritchie County the lead 48-46 and the Rebels eventually claimed a 51-46 triumph over Lincoln in opening round girls action of the Class AA, Region II, Section 1 play Wednesday night at Robert C. Byrd High School.
"(Lincoln) beat us twice during the regular season and we did not have an answer for (Amanda Freeman and Samantha Scott) inside," Ritchie County coach Terry Spangler said. "We had to go to pressure defense to keep Lincoln from getting the ball to them and it worked for much of the game."
The Rebels (6-16) will take on Bridgeport for the sectional title on Friday night at RCB with game time set for 7: 30 p.m.
The Cougars (4-14) had battled back from a five-point deficit to begin the fourth quarter (37-32) and took a 46-45 lead on Amanda Freeman's inside shot with 1:22 remaining.
However, that would be Lincoln's final score of the game as two missed shots in the final 30 seconds and a turnover sealed their fate.
Another problem area for the Cougars was free throw shooting. Lincoln made only five of 16 at the foul line and committed 17 turnovers.
"We played them twice during the season and their pressure did not bother us in either game, but tonight, we made some bad decisions with the ball," Lincoln coach David Wray said. "Overall, I am pleased with the way girls played because this was their first big game and we are young and will gain a lot of experience from this game."
Vanessa Ridgway had a huge game for the Rebels with a game-high 25 points and Ritchie County needed her extra offensive production.
"We made a little adjustment in our offense to get her a few more looks at the basket from different areas on the floor," Spangler said. "It was just something that you try to set up in practice and see if it works and Vanessa hit some big shots for us."
Freeman led the Cougars with 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Quintessa Fetty followed with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Samantha Scott added nine points and 10 rebounds.
