After a very sluggish 1st quarter, highlighted by 5 travel violations by 5 different players, the Knights snapped out of it with some hot shooting in the second quarter to put Little Miami away and extend their win streak to 7 straight. The Knights led 6-2 after the first quarter and looked like they might still be on winter break. But the second quarter the Knights put up 19 points behind hot shooting from Jason Crull, Blake Bates and Steve Michalak to take a 25-9 lead into the locker room. The Knights went on to win 57-17. Jason Crull lead the team in scoring with 14 points on 4-4 shooting from 3 point range. Steve Michalak and Jamar Lewis each contributed 9 and Blake Bates chipped in 7 in a game that saw everyone score and the Knights reduce their average points per game allowed (allowing a season low 17).
The Freshmen ended 2007 with another big win Thursday night defeating the Jackson Ironmen 57-25. Over the six game win streak the Knights have allowed 31 or less points in each win and are only giving up an average of 26 points per game. Kings jumped out in front early, allowing only 10 points in the first half. In a game that was never really in question, the Knights were lead in scoring by Jonny Brewster (15) and Taylor Bockrath (14). Kyle Schumacher contributed 8, and Jamard Lewis contributed 7. Everyone got plenty of playing time and contribute on both ends of the court. Next up, an FAVC Cardinal division match-up against Little Miami at home on Friday, January 4th to wrap up the first pass through the conference. The Knights will be looking for their seventh straight win and a 4-1 conference record at the halfway point.
The Knights traveled to Wilmington Friday night where the sign at the end of the fieldhouse read “Welcome to the Eye of the Hurricane”. Kings blew out Wilmington 53-20 busting up the eye of the Hurricane leaving what remained a light rain at best. Jason Crull opened the the game with 2 straight 3’s to put Kings up 6-0 and they never looked back. After taking a commanding lead into the half, the Knights started the 3rd quarter with a 17-0 run to kill any hope the Hurricanes had of storming back. Jonny Brewster led the charge in the 3rd quarter turning several turnovers into easy baskets that put the game out of reach. The Knights held Wilmington to 5 second half points and only 1 field goal. It was a game that saw everyone on the team score. Jonny Brewster and Jason Crull led the team in scoring with 12 and 11 points consecutively. Jarar Lewis celebrated his birthday with 5 points. And it was great to see Steve Michalak return to the court for the first time this year. Clearly the Knights learned from their lessons from last years football and basketball games in Wilmington and left no room for any controversial endings. The Freshmen squad takes a 5 game winning streak into Jackson on the 27th for a game against Coach Stevens High School alma mater.
Kings travels up I-71 to Wilmington next Friday. Last year the Knights had a disappointing split with the Hurricanes losing 28-31 on the road in a controversial game and than blowing Wilmington out 40-19 in the rematch. Lesson Learned… Control your destiny and don’t let it be close on the road. We look forward to the Knights playing with the same intensity they played with against Turpin last night to move into the break with a 3-1 record in the FAVC Cardinal division.
In what is developing into a top rivalry for the Freshmen class, the Knights defense protected a two point lead in the final 2 minutes to seal a 33-31 win. Blake Bates picked up where he left off last year against Turpin to lift the Knights to a 4-0 lead early. Turpin battled back on some key outside shooting to take a 6 point lead mid-way through the first half. The Knights turned up the defensive intensity and ended the quarter with a 7-0 run led by a 12 foot jumper by Jamar Lewis to draw the Knights within 2. David Parker sent the Knights into the locker room at half time with a 19-18 lead with a key 3 pointer at the buzzer.
The Knights played very strong defense in the second half forcing turnovers left and right with solid trapping and defensive anticpation to pick off desperation passes. Turpin was held to only 13 points in the second half. Jason Crull put the Knights ahead 33-31 with the game winning 3 pointer in the final two minutes. The Knights played instensive defense down the stretch to seal the win, capped by a huge defensive deflection in the final 4 seconds by Taylor Bockrath.
January 30, 2007
In what proved to be another great Kings - Turpin battle, the Knights went on a 8-2 run in the final two minutes of the game to give Nagel Silver it’s first loss of the FAVCC season. Blake Bates rebound basket with :01:8 seconds remaining capped off the comeback. Blake lead all scorers with 12 points. Steve Michalak and Kyle Schumacher hit four key fourth quarter free throws under pressure to help fuel the late comeback.
Coach McClung has been looking for improvement on the defensive end of the court. After 3 straight games holding opponents under 30, we are starting to get a glimpse of what he wants to see. Strong defense, trapping and good weak side help lead to turnover baskets that lead the King Knights over the Northwest Knights. Ben Bennett turned in an outstanding defensive performance taking 2 charges and forcing several turnovers. The Knights take a 3 game winning streak into Friday’s nights conference match-up vs. Turpin.
After 2 near miss combacks in the 4th quarter of both last weeks games against both Milford and Walnut Hills, the Knights delivered the knockout punch to pick up their first W for the season, beating Loveland Tigers 33-29. Jason Crull went 4-4 from the free throw line in the final minute to break a 29-29 tie and seal the win. David Parker ignited the comeback early in the 4th quarter with a couple key baskets and Brandon Byrd hit a momentum building 3 to put the Knights ahead 29-26 late into the 4th quarter.
The Knights Freshmen opened up the 2006-07 season with a strong performance against the Fairfield Sophomore team. The Knights trailing by as many as 12 with 6:00 to go in the game pulled within 3 with a little over a minute remaining. Fairfield finished strong from the free throw line at the end to hold onto a 58-53 win.
Coach McClung was proud of the boys performance and sees a couple key opportunity areas to continue to strengthen the teams performance. The Knights were led by Jonny Brewster with 20, putting in 14 in the 4th quarter rally. Jason Crull added 15 on 4-5 performance from the 3 point line.
