February 5, 2008
The Knights continued accumulating Frequent Bus Rider Miles as they traveled over to Harrison on Tuesday evening to take on the Wildcats. With a Tornado Watch in effect, the real storm was taking place in Harrison’s beautiful basketball arena. Knight Fans could only hope that the watched for tornado would somehow pick up this facility and place it across from Kings High School. A beautiful walkway over Columbia Road and we’d be all set. Tornado Winds or $11.5 million dollars would make this a reality!
Harrison’s Kyle Kinnett buried two threes in the opening quarter as the Wildcats, with a season record of 6-11; sprinted out to an early 11-9 lead. It was time for the Knights to turn up the defensive intensity which resulted in an effort that even recently retired Texas Tech Coach Bobby Knight would have applauded. The Knights simply got after it in the second quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 9-3, as Spencer Berlekamp knocked down two field goals and the Knights went 5 for 8 from the Free Throw Line to take an 18-14 half time lead as the Knights and Wildcats retired to their deluxe locker rooms.
The Knights continued out hustling the stunned Wildcats in the third period, again outscoring them 12-4, and increasing their lead to 30-18 as the quarter came to an end. With all 11 players, who dressed, diving for loose balls, playing intense defense and scrapping for every rebound; Coach Poggi had the luxury of liberally subbing in order to keep fresh bodies on the floor. The Knights outscored the hosts 15-6 in the final quarter and took an impressive 45-24 victory.
Billy “The Stat Man” Bruns reported that Spencer Burlekamp and Phil Fox shared scoring honors with 10 points apiece. Michael Olds tossed in 7. Matt Rumelhart poured in 6 while Tyler Smyth fired in 5. Brian Howell chipped in 4 and Stephen Boster rounded out the scoring with 3. Brooks Gear was unable to play due to illness. The Knights were successful on 13 out of their 19 free throw attempts for 68%. The Wildcats drained 4 of 7 attempts for 57%. The Knights sank 13 field goals from inside the arc while the Wildcats were only able to connect on 7. Both teams sank two shots from outside the arc.
Assistant Coach Terry Jenkins called this the Knights’ finest defensive effort of the season. After giving up 11 points in the opening quarter, the Knights held the Wildcats to 13 points in the final three periods. Young Mr. Kinnett was held scoreless after his two three’s in the opening quarter. The Knights, now 16-4 overall, will put their 8-1 FAVCC record on the line Friday evening as they travel up to Little Miami. Last week’s victory over the Hurricane of Wilmington clinched at least a tie for the title. However, even though the young Knights have always been taught to share, no one is really interested in sharing the league title with Walnut Hills. A victory by the Knights will secure a second straight outright conference title for the JV Knights. Tip off is at 6 PM. Go Knights!
- Scooter Knight
