6
Februflry 8.1998
Knights display winning form in ‘98
by Mel Collins
The Knight’s basketball team has
started the season with a 4-3 regular sea
son record. That does not include their
third place finish at the Marriott Tourna
ment over break. The balance of record
carries over in the CVAC, where their
record is 1-2. Their conference losses
both came on the road, one to Queens
College and the other to Mt. Olive. The
team is undefeated at home and seem
like a different squad on the road. There
is playing time for everyone, as there are
often full squad replacements during the
game. In fact. Coach Mark Peeler’s place
ment of Ronald Robinson and Fred
McGhee in against UNC-Pembroke
meant that all active players have seen
action.
The home opener took place No
vember 25 against the West Virginia Tech
Golden Bears. Deon Wingfield opened
the scoring with a two point basket, the
first of his team-high 19-point effort on
the night. Ken Evans added a three just
before the team shift to put SA ahead.
Anthony Rollins and Joe Jessen joined
Wingfield in a strong defensive effort
early. Jessen also used his ball-handling
skills to thread the needle on a pass to
Nick Mitchell, who converted a nice jump
shot. Steve McCorkle and Omar Cooper
contributed with aggressive defensive
plays and some nice baskets to keep the
Knights ahead. Brian McCollum and
Ryan Alexander each added three point
baskets to increase the lead. The intense,
fast-paced first half ended with the
Knights ahead, 47-30.
McCollum opened the second half
scoring, but it was the defensive play of
Wingfield, Rollins, and Mitchell which
caught the crowd’s attention. Jessen
added a steal and a breakaway no-look-
pass to McCorkle, who added another
two to his stats. The Knights dominated
the boards with strong rebounding by
Larry Yon, Wingfield, McCollum and
Rollins. McCorkle and Rollins also re
corded blocked shots. The strong team
effort in the physically aggressive game
paid big dividends, as the Knights were
victorious, 87-70.
On December 1, the Knights faced
the Braves of UNC-Pembroke for the fust
time. Wingfield shot a three pointer to
open the scoring. Evans hit his first three
of the evening to start his team high 18
points on the evening. Scoring was not
his only contribution, as he added
strong defensive rebounding and steals
to his accomplishments. Rollins,
Mitchell, McCorkle, John Walker,
and Ben Beshears added strength
to the defensive display. Carlton
Horton, McCollum, Evans and
Alexander also added offense, with
three-point baskets to cushion the
lead. Despite six team switch-ins in
the fu-st half, the momentum carried
the Knights to a 40-26 half-time
lead.
The dominance continued in
the second half Evans hit his third
three-pointer to open the second
half scoring. Jessen, Mitchell,
McCollum and Wingfield also
added three pointers in the half As
an added emphasis on scoring,
Wingfield, Rollins and Mitchell took
advantage on breakaways to dunk.
Perhaps the only weakness the
team showed was free throws. How
ever, the eight missed points did not
affect the outcome as the Knights
were victorious 86-78.
To start Winter Term, the
Knights faced off against the
Longwood Lancers in CVAC com
petition. Wingfield again opened
the scoring to start his 27-point ef
fort for the evening. The scoring
went back and forth, but the team
showed its ability to keep the ball
moving and follow up shots. Rollins
led the defensive effort with six
blocked shots and two defensive
rebounds in the first half.
McCollum, Walker, Wingfield,
Jessen and McCorkle aided the de
fensive efforts. Evans rebounded a
Rollins miss and converted a three-
pointer. Cooper got an assist on an
Alexander three-pointer while yell
ing “You better shoot that!” By the half,
the Knights were ahead, 45-34.
A Longwood run started the sec
ond half but an Evans three stopped the
skid. Jessen and McCollum added their
range, each hitting two no doubt three-
pointers in the second half Wingfield
continued his scoring tirade while
Rollins added a monster rejection to fur
ther emphasize his defensive game.
McCorkle had a sweet dunk to further
prove the Knights’ total game. The team
worked widi a lot of hustle to win 91 -77.
The High Point Panthers arrived
on January 12 to provide a challenge for
the Knights. They responded with a
slow start, as the first four points came
off fi'ee throws by Mitchell and Jessen.
But Rollins helped to step it up with
the first six of his 21 points to ignite
the team. The Knights kept things go
ing at both ends, balancing strong de
fense and aggressive offense to forge
a lead. Hustle was key as the players
forced turnovers by the Panthers but
managed to maintain possession on
some close plays. The strong shoot
ing included multiple threes by
McCollum, Evans, Wingfield and
Alexander. As a result, the Knights led
44-30 at the half
The team picked up where it left
off after the break. Rollins and
McCorkle became a pair of rejection
specialists, blocking a combined nine
shots. Added into the mix were defen
sive rebounds by Wingfield, Beshears,
Mitchell and Horton, as well as steals
by Jessen and Evans. Evans converted
his steal into a monster dunk and re
ceived a technical for hanging on the
rim. The crowd was still going nuts and
the bench remained standing while High
Point hit their two free throws. Long dis
tance scoring was also on call, with
Beshears, McCollum, Mitchell and Yon
contributing threes. There was electric
ity in the air as the Knights were victori
ous 85-76.
The team has come away looking
very much like they could be the sec
ond best team in CVAC. Provided they
can maintain this level of play, it may be
a very enjoyable season to watch.