Christian Woods' clutch free throws leads Zalma to 53-52 win over Eagle Ridge Christain

Zalma freshman guard Christian Woods drives to the basket to score against Eagle Ridge Christain on Monday, Dec. 11, in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Wins are hard to come by for the Zalma Bulldogs. They only won two last year.

Yet after a hard-fought game against Eagle Ridge Christian, Zalma freshman guard Christian Woods stood on the free-throw line with 4.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Free throws weren't so free for the Bulldogs, who made 7-of-16 before the final moment.

The 5-7 freshman, unfazed by the pressure, dribbled the ball a few times, spun it around, and launched it toward the basket.

One made shot tied the game.

The second swish sealed it.

Woods scored 13 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 53-52 road win over Eagle Ridge Christain on Monday, Dec. 11, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He scored nine points in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs rallied from a six-point deficit to win their second game of the season.

"He's a freshman so anything we get offensively is a bonus," Zalma head coach Marc Wayde Crane said. "He's our floor leader whether he likes it or not. He's been huge for us."

The Bulldogs took a slight 13-12 lead in the first quarter thanks to a pair of three-point baskets by freshman guard Colby Borders and one from senior guard Jarren Woods. The older Woods scored six more points in the second quarter to maintain the Bulldogs lead as they went to halftime up 27-23.

Noah Simpson led the Eagles throughout the game with a game-high 26 points. The sophomore forward scored 10 points in the first half to keep the Eagles within range.

Simpson then scored nine of the Eagles' 14 points in the third quarter to turn the tables on Zalma, who were held to only four points during the period. A buzzer-beating three-pointer by junior forward Caleb Margrabe, who finished with 10 points, gave Eagle Ridge a 37-31 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Eagles continued their pace through the fourth quarter, with Simpson leading the way with 10 of their 15 points. However, the Bulldogs turned their offense around and outscored the Eagles 22-15 to rally and win.

Zalma won their first game of the season, at home against winless North Pemiscot, 60-49, on Nov. 17. Monday's win snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Bulldogs.

"We needed it just for our confidence and for the guys to see that our stuff does work when we execute it, so it was a big win for them," Crane said. "Any win is a good win."

Zalma (2-7) returns home on Tuesday, Dec. 12, to host Clearwater at 7:30 p.m.

Eagle Ridge (3-2) host Heritage Classical Christian Academy on Friday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m.