Sixth-ranked East Ridge showed why the Raptors are a top 10 team at Park Friday.

The Suburban East Conference leaders came into Cottage Grove and dominated a good Park team, winning 48-29 in a conference showdown. It was almost an identical score to the first meeting between the teams this season. In that game the Raptors won 47-26. East Ridge used suffocating defense and a spread offense to frustrate the Wolfpack and perhaps especially start center Pharrel Payne.

Payne was held to just 7 points as the Raptors threw two or even three players at him every time he touched the ball.

With Payne hounded and limited, none of his teammates could pick up the offensive slack. Jamari Walker’s 11 points led the Wolfpack but he was the only Park player in double figures.

“We’ve got to be better,” said Park head coach Mike Weah. “I mean I understand shots not falling but I don’t understand – I thought we gave a great effort, but we’ve got to lock into our gameplan. We didn’t move fast enough today to get to the spots that we’re supposed to be in. So, I think the effort was really good today. I just don’t think the lock in, and the mental toughness was there today.”

Park slipped to 11-5 in the conference and 16-8 on the season with two games to play in the regular season.

East Ridge closed in on an SEC title, improving to 14-2 in the league and 19-5 overall.

Park hosted Forest Lake Tuesday in its final home game of the regular season, then plays at White Bear Lake on Friday in the regular season finale.

“We’ve got to take this next week very seriously,” said Weah. “And got our mind set ready because that’s what it’s going to take to advance anywhere in the section is going to be our mental toughness.”

Park 85, Stillwater 70

Park, which prides itself on its defense, got offensive Wednesday in an 85-70 rout of host Stillwater in a Suburban East Conference contest.

Senior center Pharrel Payne ripped the Ponies for 30 points and got ample support from OT Omot and Brady Perryman who scored 13 apiece and Evan Bearth who scored 10.

The 85 points were the most the Wolfpack have scored this season. It was Park’s fifth win in six games.

Park led 44-29 at the half.