Sports
jRHUflry 31, 1997
Knights fall to Panthers, 8-7 overall
by Melissa Collins
On January 16, the
Knights faced the High
Point Panthers. Deon
Wingfield opened the
game with good defense,
but it was 8-0 Panthers
before Joe Jessen opened
the Knights scoring with
a three-point shot. Ken
Evans and Shane Karlon
added two three-pointers
each, with Karlon throw
ing a steal and dunk into
the mix as well. Jessen,
Wingfield and Ryan
Alexander added three
pointers and the team
showed great overall de
fense. The halftime score
was painfully close, with
the Knights ahead 44-43.
However, good defense
- and three pointers could
not keep S. A. ahead, as the
Panthers were victorious
86-72.
The battle between
the Knights and the Mt.
Olive Trojans took place
on January 18. Nick
Mitchell opened the scor
ing with a three-pointer
and the team responded
with a strong series of de
fensive plays and three
point shots, capped off
with a sweet arch by Ken
Evans. Brian McCollum
made a beautiful save as
he was diving out of
bounds to add to the over
all team effort. However,
halftime saw a 51-36
score in favor of the Tro
jans. But basketball is a
game where anything is
possible.
Team hustle and foul
shooting brought the team
back to tie the score, forc
ing overtime. However, the
five minute overtime was
played without Mitchell,
McCollum and Karlon,
who had all fouled out of
the game. The thrilling
game ended with the Tro
jans victorious 111-108.
The Belmont Abbey
Crusaders arrived on
January 20 to face the
Knights in the dungeon.
Wingfield opened the
scoring and the team de
fense went to work.
McCollum, Jessen and
Ben Beshears each forced
turnovers in the early go
ing. John Walker fought
hard for rebounds and
Alexander added two
three pointers to end the
half with S.A. behind by
two, 29-27. The second
half saw the Knights con
tinue their strong defense
and team hustle. Mitchell
and Jessen both made nice
plays by following up on
shots to insure points for
the team. The final score
was a victory for the
Knights, 67-58.
The Longwood
Lancers took their shot on
January 23. The Knights
were up for the challenge.
The team came out with a
series of three point shots
to show their range. De
fensive prowess was also
displayed as.«the team
proved that it meant busi
ness. When the court was
cleared for halftime, the
Knights held the ten point
advantage, 35-25. The
team continued to domi
nate, keeping the pressure
on the Lancers. Mitchell
added a dunk late in the
game to put an exclama
tion point on the night. The
entire team saw action,
with George
Hajiefremides, the player
highlighted in the pro
gram, and Lee Love both
adding late baskets to the
team total. The final score
showed an incredible 92-
67 romping of the Lanc
ers.
The team has shown
its skill on several occa
sions. All of the contests
in the Dungeon have been
well fought as the talent of
the team comes together.
The dominance should
continue and make the
team a factor in the stand
ings.
Lady Knights victorious over High Point
by Melissa Collins
The women’s basket
ball team has fallen on hard times
recently, losing three of their last
four home games. The games
have not been total disasters but
the final scores have not been
pretty.
On January 15, the women
faced the High Point Panthers.
The Panthers had 16 points be
fore Farah Allen put the first
points up for the Lady Knights.
Kristi Ballard made a great steal
soon after to ignite the team de
fensively. Good defense allowed
the offensive gears to begin turn
ing. Michelle Branam attempted
a nearly three point shot with the
shot clock running down to draw
a foul and the shots.
At the half, the score was
33-15 in favor of High Point.
LaTonya Holley made a beauti
ful no look pass to Branam, who
made a three pointer. Despite a
great series of defensive plays by
Holley and additional three-
pointers by Ballard and Branam
the final score saw High Point
ahead 65-46.
The team saw its fortunes
change against Mt. Olive. Cristie
Patterson opened the scoring and
Jennifer Franklin added two
three-point shots early on to put
S.A. ahead 10-4 at the first time
out. Ballard made a beautiful
steal and a great effort to keep
the ball in bounds. The play was
finished off by a beautiful three
point shot by Franklin. However,
halftime saw the Lady Knights
behind 25-23.
In a strange play early in
the second half, S.A. was called
for a block. Ballard was then
handed the ball to inbound. The
referees realized their mistake
and corrected it but it was quite
an interesting series of events.
Defensive efforts by Franklin and
Ballard, along with three-pointers
by Branam, Franklin and Ballard,
allowed the Lady Knights to run
up the score to end ahead, 71-59.
January 20 was the night
that the Lady Knights faced the
Lady Crusaders of Belmont Ab
bey. Allen and Franklin started
things off well defensively for the
team. Holley, Jodi Devereux, Beth
Larson, Stephanie Hight and
Michelle Branam added to a fan
tastic defensive start to the game.
Franklin, Ballard, and Branam
added three-pointers to build to
a 25-22 halftime lead. The sec
ond half again saw nice defensive
efforts by the team, but penalty
problems caused an overall swing
in momentum. The final score
saw the Lady Crusaders victori
ous 74-50.
The toughest game came
January 23 against the 14-1
Longwood Lancers. Defense and
hustle were the key to the early
part of the game. Ballard opened
the scoring for the Lady Knights
and Jessica Dudek added three
points on a basket and foul shot.
The players made smart plays,
using hustle to keep the ball in
bounds or in S.A. possession. The
halftime score was 34-30 in favor
of the Lancers.
However, the second half
saw the Lancers pull away. The
Lady Knights continued their
strong effort defensively, but the
Lancers proved to be too much.
The final score was 71-55.
The team has had some hard
times lately, but their efforts are
always strong. It is only a matter
of time before that effort yields
some impressive victories.
On Monday, January 27, the
Men's basketball team lost to
Pfeiffer 102-98 in overtime.
The Women's team beat
Pfeiffer 61-58.