The Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad wanted a second chance at Newton, but the Panthers could not cash in on chances during the game and fell to the Cardinals 59-55 in the class 3A Sub State ending their season as heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The Cardinals dominated the Panthers on the boards getting second chance points, plus getting loose on back door plays on numerous occasions. Interim Coach Matt Ritchhart told KNIA/KRLS Sports several times his team got close but rebounding was a major key to his team’s loss.
Ritchhart:
“We just couldn’t quite get over the hump. Looking at the box score, they had 52 shots to our 35 and that can’t happen, and we just got dominated on the boards, and you can’t do that if you want to win those close games.”
The Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad will have to take to the road for the start of the class 3A sub state tonight as the Panthers travel north on Highway 14 to Newton. The two teams met on January 9th with the Cardinals getting a game winning basket as time expired in overtime to knock off the Panthers 71-69. Knoxville Interim Coach Matt Ritchhart tells KNIA/KRLS Sports after that loss, the guys wanted a second chance at Newton and they are getting it.
Ritchhart:
“I’m not going to lie to you, that’s the match up we wanted, not that they’re a bad team, they’re a very good team. They have several good shooters including Ingle, who lit us up pretty good, and they have Schilling and Bauer that space the court really well.”
It was a nightmare start, middle and end for the Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad last night against Grandview Christian as the Thunder took control with a 15-2 run to end the first quarter en route to a 69-23 win over the Panthers, as heard on 95.3 KNIA. With the score tied at five, Knoxville allowed GVCA to go on a 39-4 run the rest of the first half to lead 44-9 at the break, and the running clock was in effect during all of the second half. Knoxville Interim Head Coach Matt Ritchhart told KNIA/KRLS Sports for Knoxville to be successful, everyone has to move on offense and not stand and watch one or two players run the show.
The Knoxville Girls Basketball Squad got back to its winning ways in the South Central Conference with a 53-32 win over Albia, while the Panther boys suffered their first loss of the season 71-56 to the Blue Demons as heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The girls played excellent defense all night, limiting Albia to single digits in each quarter. While the offense struggled at times for the Panthers, Coach Jim Uitermarkt told KNIA/KRLS Sports their defense was solid all night and was happy to get the win.
Uitermarkt:
“Four single digit quarters and that’s about as good as you can get defensively. Thankfully our defense was there the whole game, offense hit and miss, but we’ll take a road win by 20 points anytime.”