Grace Christian Sweeps Ridgeview on Senior Night

Steve Cox
2/4/2025
STAUNTON – Grace Christian School celebrated Senior Night by sweeping rival Ridgeview Christian in VACA basketball action Monday night.
The Grace girls pounded Ridgeview 45-17 and the boys followed with a convincing 67-34 win.
The Warriors stymied Ridgeview’s offense, allowing just two points in the second quarter and no points in the fourth quarter.
“We rely on our defense. We work on it a lot and we take a lot of pride in our defense,” said Grace Christian head coach Jeff Greenmun. “Our seniors led the way, and we locked them down most of the night.”
Grace outscored the visitors 14-2 in the second quarter to take control of the game.
The Warriors led 11-6 after one period and opened the second quarter with two quick buckets by Aubrey Greenmun to lead 15-6.
After a bucket by Ridgeview’s Moriah Nice, Grace closed the quarter with a 10-0 run. Emily Vogan worked inside for a pair of buckets and Georgia Babish followed with back-to-back scores, giving Grace a 23-8 lead. Greenmun added a bucket, sending the Warriors to the break with a 25-8 cushion.
Ridgeview found some rhythm on offense in the third quarter, but the visitors were unable to slice into the Warriors’ advantage. Kaitlyn Harper scored seven points and Greenmun added five, putting Grace ahead 36-17 after three quarters.
Harper scored four more points in the final quarter and Graycie Kincheloe added a 3-pointer as the Warriors closed out the 45-17 victory.
Greenmun, Harper and Kincheloe, all seniors, paced the Warriors’ scoring effort. Greenmun led the way with 14 points, followed by Harper with 12 and Kincheloe with seven.
“It was a special night for our seniors,” said Grace’s head coach. “They are some high character young people, and they handled things well tonight.”
In the boys’ game, defense was once again front and center.
Grace trailed 12-11 after the first quarter, but outscored Ridgeview 20-2 in the second period to take control of the game.
“Our defense was excellent,” said Grace head coach George McNair.” Aiden Weaber has become our defensive stopper and Clark Wells is another talented defensive player. We were able to put then on Ridgeview’s two best players and they did a good job. We ramped out the pressure and intensity late in the first quarter and that helped up break things open.”
Grace hit the visitors with a 9-0 spurt to start the second quarter. Big man Caleb Smith connected on back-to-back buckets to start the quarter. Point guard Caleb Cashion scored after a steal and Toby Schmandt scored inside for a 20-12 Warriors’ lead.
After a bucket by Ridgeview’s Matthew Walters, Cashion took over for the Warriors.
On three straight possessions, Cashion dished off to Weaber for easy buckets, increasing the lead to 26-14. Another Cashion assist led to a bucket by Isaiah Cline, doubling the score, 28-14. Cline then beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer for a 31-14 halftime lead.
“Caleb is exactly what you want in a point guard,” said McNair of the lone senior on the Grace team. “He’s incredibly fast with the ball, the fastest in our league, and he’s incredibly unselfish, always looking for his teammates.”
Cashion scored 17 points, leading four Warriors in double digits. Cline added 14 points, followed by Schmandt with 11 points and Weaber with 10. Smith just missed double figures with nine points.
Ash Salcedo led Ridgeview Christian with 13 points.