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The 2007-8 Kings women’s basketball season marked the beginning of a new program, under new leadership.  The early returns were very good, with many victories coming by large margins, and narrow, competitive defeats against tough Loveland and Walnut Hills squads.  Another narrow loss to undefeated Springboro gave a glimpse of the team’s potential.  However as Coach Karabinus likes to say, a basketball season is not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and these Lady knights would endure a difficult stretch during which wins were few and coaches and players alike were struggling for answers.  Finally, it was decided that the only way to get back on track would be a re-dedication to the basics, and a commitment to doing things the right way all the time.

To the girls’ everlasting credit they bought into this commitment - they listened to their coaches, they stayed the course, and most importantly, they stuck together as teammates, and for this they were rewarded with a terrific stretch of basketball to finish the season.  The Lady Knights won 5 of their last 6 regular-season contests.  Varsity Red, White and Blue winner Jasmine Hill clinched a tremendous double-overtime victory at Wilmington with her clutch foul shooting.  Hill, a 2nd team All-FAVC selection, also led the Lady Knights in scoring in a tough win over a very good Glen Este team on Senior Night. 

A resounding defeat of the rival Little Miami Panthers in their gym, behind the 14 points and 18 rebounds of team co-MVP and 1st team All-FAVC selection Emily Leary, was the perfect way to cap the regular season.  The reward for this fantastic finish was a tournament rematch with Ursuline, the team that handed the Lady Knights their only defeat in those final six games.  The final score of that first meeting was not a good indication of the the quality of the game, and the Lady Knights were determined not to let the opportunity slip through their grasp the second time around. 

After leading by eight and holding Ursuline to 12 points in the first half, the lead was increased all the way to 16 points in the third period.  Team co-MVP and 1st-team All-FAVC selection Shelby Kies led the charge, directing the offense and accumulating 13 points and 8 steals.  In the end, the Lady Knights withstood a furious rally in the fourth quarter for a hard-earned, well-deserved victory, and would move on to face the Mount Notre Dame Cougars in the district semifinals.

Despite their status a s heavy underdogs entering the game, the Lady Knights played with confidence and passion, breaking the vaunted MND press and executing the game plan extremely well.  Mount Notre Dame had no answer for 4-year letter winner Emily Leary inside, as she and Katelyn Haralamous led the team with 14 points apiece.  The Cougars, who had raced out to huge leads in their first two tournament games by scoring over 50 points in the fist half of each, would be stonewalled for much of the night by an undersized but inspired Kings defense.  The Cougars would manage only 58 points in the entire game, but it was enough for them to win, and the wonderful season-ending ride for the Lady Knights was over.  The girls went out the way they wanted and deserved, with their heads held high, having given it everything they had in a game no one bu them expected to be close.

 The Lady Knights wrapped up their season with a 12-10 overall record, including a 6-4 mark in FAVC play, good for second place in the league.  These are good numbers, but this team would be best remembered by what they accomplished when their backs were against the wall.  The mid-season transformation that took place was no accident and no miracle; it was the result of effort and perseverance.  The second half of the season, especially the final eight games, tell the real story of this year’s Lady Knights team.  They avenged two of their toughest losses, against Wilmington and Little Miami, and rose to meet this same challenge a third time to claim the tournament victory over Ursuline.  Now, the new challenge is to continue riding that wave of momentum, continue to improve, and go on to achieve even bigger and better things in the seasons to come.

Friday night the Lady Knights took on the no. 2 team in the city, Mount Notre Dame.  The LK battled close till the end but came up short, 58 - 42, ending their season at 12-10. 

Click below to review a season summary:

STANDINGS | RESULTS | SEASON STATISTICS

… and check back soon for the season wrap-up!

Congratulations to the Lady Knights on a strong 2007-8 season! 

Saturday the Lady Knights started their tournament run with a big 41 to 36 win over Ursuline.  Click below for Stats, and stay tuned for details on the next tournament game against Mount Notre Dame, the number 2 team in the city!

 GAME STATS | SLIDE SHOW (Courtesy of Jenny Haralamous)

GO LADY KNIGHTS!!

The conference leading Eagles proved to be too much and controlled the game from the opening tip. Offensively, the Lady Knights never got it going, as the Eagles 1-2 punch of Tayler Stanton and Phylesha Bullard out scored the entire team 42-40.

Shelby Kies was in double figures with 15 points and Emily Leary added 7.

Box score

The Lady Knights have dropped to 5-5 and travel to Springboro on Wednesday night.

After leading by as many as 10 points, in the fourth quarter and 5 points in overtime, the Lady Knights let one slip away to Little Miami 58-55, in double overtime.

The game; played in front of a nice crowd, was a tough pill to swallow, leading into Chrismas break.

Shelby Kies led the scoring with 14 points, Jasmine Hill was in double figures with 10, Sarah Ruwe and Emily Leary added 9 each and Katelyn Haralamos chipped in with 7.

It wasn’t pretty; but the Lady Knights survived, on Wednesday night and notched their fifth win at Mount Healthy 46-43.   STATS | After putting up 21 points in the first quarter, the Lady Knights struggled to score and managed only 25 points the rest of the game, including only 7 in the fourth quarter. Luckily, the Lady Owls missed a last second 3-pointer, that would have sent the game into overtime.

Jazmine Hill led the scoring with 14 points and Shelby Kies, was also in double figures, with 11. Emily Leary led the team, with 14 rebounds.

Due to the postponement of the Wilmington game, the Lady Knights next game, is this Saturday’s “Jam the Gym” versus Little Miami. It will be a big crowd, plan to get there early.

Knowing the intense rivalry between Kings and Turpin, this game was a surprise and to be honest; the outcome was never in question, as the Lady Knights scored the first 17 points of the game. After leading 17-2, at the end of the first quarter, the girls only managed 6 second quarter points, but still maintained a commanding 23-6 halftime lead.The second half was a little closer, but the damage was done and the Lady Knights secured a 50-26 victory. The win moves the Lady Knights to 4-3 overall and 2-1, in conference play.

Shelby Kies led the way with another “double-double”, 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmine Hill scored 9 points, Emily Leary controlled the boards, with 13 rebounds and Nikki Philpot grabbed 11. Leary, Philpot and Katelyn Haralamos each added 6 points, with Haralamos having a perfect shooting performance 2 for 2, from both the field and the free throw line.

Box score  Game photos (courtesy of Jenny Haralamos)

Next game: @ Mount Healthy, Wednesday night.

Similar to the Walnut Hills game; the Lady Knights put together about sixteen minutes of good basketball, versus a quality team. The problem is, that’s only half of the game.

 Stats | Photos (courtesy of Jenny Haralamos)

 After leading 23-22 at halftime, the Lady Knights could only manage four points in the third quarter and would never recover, losing 52-43. The loss drops the team to 3-3 on the season.

Shelby Kies led the team with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Devon Shanks was also in double figures, with 11 points and Emily Leary had another solid game, with 8 points and a stunning 14 rebounds.

Next game @ Turpin, Saturday afternoon. 

A close game through three quarters; turned into a rout, as the Lady Knights out scored the Barons 19-5, in the final stanza. Shelby Kies and Jasmine Hill led the offensive attack, with 19 and 13 points, respectively. Kies also led the team in rebounding with 8.

Next up; the Loveland Tigers, at home Wednesday 12/5.

On the road, at Fairfield High, the Lady Knights came up short, to post their second straight loss 51-41. 

The Indians got off to a fast start and led 16-10, at the first quarter break. With Kings only managing 8 points in the second quarter, Fairfield pushed the lead to 27-18 at halftime.

The Lady Knights showed some life in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 33-29, at the break. Stuck on 29, for what seemed forever, the girls never got any closer and let it slip away in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers (23) and dismal free throw shooting (11-20) really hurt the Lady Knights, I’m sure Coach K. will be concentrating on improvement in these areas.

Shelby Kies led the scoring, with 15 points. Emily Leary had 9 points, 10 rebounds and Nikki Philpot had 13 rebounds.

Next game @ Amelia Monday, December 3rd.