Friday the Knights traveled to Wilmington for what they knew would be a tough conference matchup.  The Knights were coming off exams and the Hurricane off a surprising loss to the Amelia Barons.  The Knights built an early lead but were unable to fend off a furious Hurrican comeback, finally losing in overtime, 59 to 56.

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Wilmington is a young team that relies on quickness, so it was not surprising that the game started a little rough - the teams would eventually combine for 24 turnovers - but the Knights built a 24-17 lead going in at halftime with their usual balanced attack.

The Knights started the third quarter on a run, and when the lead went to 31 to 19 with 6 minutes left in the quarter it looked like it might turn into a route.  But suddenly the Knights went stone cold, the Hurricane rattled off 13 straight points, and in 4 short minutes the Knights’ 12 point lead became a one point deficit.  The Knights scrambled back and took a 36 to 34 lead at the end of the 3rd period. 

The teams traded buckets in the fourth quarter till with 1:28 left the Hurricane knocked down 2 free throws to take a 50 to 46 lead.  But the Knights fought back again, and with 25 seconds left Derrick Harris tied the game at 50 with two crucial free throws.  The Knights fought off the Hurricane on the ensueing possession, and the game went into overtime.

 In overtime the Hurricane again grabbed a 4 point lead, and things looked bleak inside a minute to play.  But at 56 to 52 the Knights fought back again, Danny Hagee and Aaron Gayhart scoring in succession and tying the game at 56.  The end of the overtime period was shaping up exactly like regulation, and when the ball hit the floor and there was a scrum with 5 seconds to go, it looked like overtime number 2 was imminent. 

 But when the ball squirted out of the pileup and into the arms of a Hurricane player waiting just beyond the 3 point arc he scooped it up, jumped straight in the air, and with 1.5 seconds left dashed the Knights hopes 59 to 56.

Aaron Gayhart led the Knights with 17 points and 5 rebounds.  Derrick Harris’ clutch play at the end of the fourth quarter and regulation kept the Knights in the game; he finished with 14 points and 5 assists.  Mark Byrd pulled down 9 rebounds and Calvin Scruby had 7 assists.

 It was another disappointing loss for the Knights (5-3 overall), whose list of last second defeats includes Milford (long buzzer beater), Loveland (long buzzer beater to send the game to overtime), and now Wilmington (long buzzer beater in OT).

 But that’s the bad news.  The good: the Knights - who are facing their toughest schedule in years - are tied for first place in the Cardinal division and have their fate in their hands. 

Next the Knights will travel to Jackson on the 27th before starting their 2008 run toward the championship with Little Miami visiting The Mill January 4th.

 GO KNIGHTS!!