Work hard.  Play hard.  Have fun.

Coach Darrell Davis, the varsity boys basketball coach, stresses to the boys theses three things are the key to a successful working team.  This past

Friday, January 16, the Knights varsity boys basketball team went head to head against Parkway North starting off the teams second half of the season with a win proving hard work really does pay off with a 53-51 overtime win.

“We stayed positive,” junior guard Chase Powelson said. “We were determined to get back in the game and get a win at home.”

Out on court we have our five starters including Corey Willis, Elliot Montgomery, Gabe Grote, Derrick Scarbrough, and Calvin Wellmaker.  The game starts off on a good note with the Knights winning the jump ball played by number 35, Calvin Wellmaker, and with senior, Derrick Scarbrough shooting our first basket for the night.  While they could, Parkway North took advantage and started to gain on our  boys leaving it hard for North to catch up.  Davis switches his players up and  pulls Chase Powelson out onto the  court around 4:39 to help with the team.  Its down to 2:16 on the clock and Parkway North has us beat, up 11, with the score of 4-15.  With only 45 seconds left on the clock Scarbrough manages to make one last basket before the quarter ends, leaving the score 8-15 Parkway North.

“We let them go on a pretty big run,” Powelson said.  “They ran off like 11 points in a row so we had to keep our composure and work our way back in it.”

With a not so great end to the first quarter the boys made up for it in the quarters to come.  Coming back with hardcore defense the boys managed to hold Parkway North and fight back.  The Knights run began with Elliot Montgomery shooting a three. The crowd started to go wild as Howell North began to swat at Parkway, blocking high balls,  not only once but three times by players Calvin Wellmaker and Elliot Montgomery.  The boys lead us to the end of the second quarter with the score of 29-25.  Though Parkway North is not to far behind Howell North, the team continued to catch up and  work hard to gain the time they had lost in the beginning of the game.

“Our team showed a lot of heart tonight,” junior Cameron Landers said.  “To be down eleven early and come back is not an easy thing.”

Parkway North begins the third quarter starting with the ball.  Now, halfway through the game, the Knights still  keep up with high energy, continuing to move the ball around and making open shots.  A foul is called on a Parkway teammate against Montgomery leaving him  shooting and making both of his free throws.  With about 2:36 left of the quarter both Grote and Powelson work and managed to make an additional two more baskets rounding up the ending score of a close 40-41.

“Tonight we kept our heads held high and never gave up,” senior Calvin Wellmaker said.  “My goals were to box out and get buckets.”

Fourth quarter the tension builds.  Grote makes two free throws and a 3 point making it 45-47.  Grote then attempts to dribble down the court and go up for the shot but is now being swatted at by Parkway players.  The quarter goes on and Wellmaker shots a two. We are face to face with yet again another free throw both made by Powelson.  It’s tied 49-49 with only 2:00 left ticking. Another ball is sunk in by the the Knights but what comes to a surprise is Parkways come back in the very last 20 seconds.  Parkways ties the teams 51-51.

“We knew that Parkway didn’t have the best of records but doesn’t leave room for a let down,” Landers said.  “They had a very good player for us to prepare for however our spirits were held high going in.”

“Our goals were to play good defense and not turn the ball over,” Coach Davis said.  “If we do that we’ll win.”

Four minutes, that’s it.  Four minutes to give it all.  Four minutes to fight back and show them who’s house this really is.  The overtime clock ticks as the teams begin to scrimmage.  North again wins the jump ball giving the Knights hands on the ball. The team continues on plowing through with competitive attitudes showing their eagerness for victory. The teams had several plays leading up to the end.  Montgomery stands at the free throw line but misses.  With 1:26 left on the clock Parkway North makes a basket accumulating the score to 55-53.  Montgomery finds himself once again at the free throw and sinks both shots this time.  Parkway pushes their way back in with a three point leaving the game now at 57-56 with only 43 seconds left.  Scarbrough chucks the ball across the court to Powelson who makes and easy shot for the team.   A foul is called on one of Knights giving Parkway two attempts to score  making only one.  Five  seconds remaining and a time out is called.  The teams quickly gather together to configure  last second plays. The teams break and they are back on the court.  Parkway seems to get their hands on a free throw again but the crowd screams in madness for hope it will a distraction.  The buzzer sounds and the game ends with a final score of 59-57. The crowd goes wild.

“To push through and win in overtime was a great accomplishment for our team,” Landers said. “We did a good job of moving the ball around and hitting our mid range jump shots.  This game was a step in the right direction for us.”