High school girls basketball: Ridgeline pulls away for win at Lehi Holiday Hoopfest, Lone Peak struggles against Texas team

Two of the top girls programs in Utah tested themselves against out-of-state competition on Friday at the Lehi Holiday Hoopfest.

One fared great, the other, not so much.

Lehi improved to 7-0 with a 50-38 win over previously-undefeated Riverdale Ridge, Colo., outscoring the Ravens 21-9 in the fourth quarter.

Lone Peak didn’t fare as well against Faith Family, Texas. The Knights, who don’t have any notable senior contributors, fell behind in the second quarter and could never recover as they lost 72-41.

Ridgeline will face Perry, Ariz., on Saturday at 12 p.m., while Lone Peak will face Riverdale Ridge.

The two-day boys and girls tournament features nine total games on Friday and nine more on Saturday.

Ridgeline coach Ainsli Jenks really enjoys how games against out-of-state teams test her squad in a different way.

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“Something like this I think is fun, because I think it’s good for the girls. Sometimes teams play a little bit different style from other states, and I think it’s an opportunity to see different basketball and different faces,” Jenks said.

“Most of the girls know most of the Utah teams and the players, and so I think it’s fun just to see different players and different programs.”

That lack of familiarity with teams outside Utah also forces Ridgeline’s players to adjust in game to different circumstances, and Jenks though her players did a really good job of that against Riverdale.

The game was tied 29-29 heading into the fourth quarter, but led by Duke-bound Emilee Skinner the Riverhawks pulled away for the comfortable win. Skinner recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds for Ridgeline, with Abby Munford adding 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Skinner is the only returning starter for two-time 4A state champion Ridgeline, but Jenks said the key players around her have been putting in the work for years to join Skinner at the varsity ranks.

“I have been so impressed by them, but they’re the kids that — guess who was playing against the varsity these last few years? It was these kids and so they’ve, you know, they put in work, they work their tails off every day. They’re so coachable,” said Jenks.

“Who doesn’t want to play on a varsity team, right? If you’re gonna play a high school sport, one of the most exciting things is when you get to be in that varsity level game, and I think these girls have worked hard, and I think they’re excited. "

Jenks praised Skinner how much she’s helped the newcomers thrive in their role, which has played a big role in Ridgeline improving to 7-0 this year.

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In Lone Peak’s game, it started out well in the first quarter but quickly ran out of gas in falling to 4-2 on the season. The Eagles led 17-16 after the first quarter, but trailed 33-23 by halftime. The deficit swelled to 52-33 by the end of the third quarter.

Kennedy Woolston led Lone Peak in the loss with 13 points, with Alabama-bound Joy Egbuna leading Faith Family with 21 points.