On third attempt to play

the game, CK triumphs

George Edgar
(Sports Writer)

The Bremerton Knights were supposed to play Central Kitsap back in December but the snowfall and icy conditions led to the game being postponed twice. They finally got to play the non-league contest on January 23 inside CK’s gym and the two teams didn’t disappoint.

After a slow start in the first half, both teams ratcheted up play and staged an exciting second half. The Knights led 45-38 after three quarters but the Cougars stormed back in the fourth quarter to knock off Bremerton 57-54.

The Knights took a commanding lead behind Samuel Tucker, who scored 18 of his game high 30 points in the third quarter.

But Central Kitsap came storming back in the fourth, taking the lead on an Aiden Moore three-pointer to go up 48-47 with 3:50 left.

Bremerton tied the game after a technical foul was called on CK, and Trevon Pietz made one of two shots, but CK grabbed the lead back on a free throw off a foul, followed by a turnround jumper by Landon Frandsen at 51-48 with 3:20 left.

Bremerton cut the lead to 55-54 with 12.6 seconds left and a chance to go for the win. Tucker got the ball up court to Pietz but a quick layup attempt didn’t go in and the ball was rebounded by Payton Davis of CK, who made two free throws for the final margin.

“There were a few opportunities where we could have capitalized but we didn’t,” said Bremerton coach Miah Davis. “For the most part, I was proud of my boys, for stepping up to the challenge. I think it started when we played Lake Stevens (on Saturday). We came out second half as a team I know we could beat with the potential. I told them they had the potential; they just had to tap into it. So tonight was a prime example of what we could be, we just have minimize mistakes down the stretch.”

Moore led CK with 19 points, and Frandsen added 11.

The Knights are currently in a stretch where they are playing five games in six days. They played three straight games – a win over North Mason in Belfair, followed by a pair of non-league losses to Class 3A Shelton and Class 4A Lake Stevens – to end the week. After Sunday off, they played CK and will get  back into league play with Olympic on Tuesday night. Olympic defeated the Knights back in December.

Some teams would be feeling tired or even exhausted in such a stretch, but Davis thinks the Knights are getting a second wind.

“I feel like we getting into a more of a game rhythm,” said Davis. “We didn’t have any non-league games, we just jumped right into league. I believe were getting our second wind. I believe the sails are catching between our wings.”

This stretch of games resembles a stretch last season when the Knights had to play numerous games in a two week span, when snow and COVID played havoc with the schedule, forcing postponements in late December and into January.

“I think for the boys, they rather play games instead of practice,” Davis said. “That’s the way it should be. If it was up to me, they would play a game every night instead of practice. Sometimes with games like this, with emotions, the up and down roller coaster that’s what games gives you, I think they’re starting to feel that and it shows.”

Bremerton fell to 3-11 with the loss but wants to keep the tradition of playing Central Kitsap going, snow, ice, and COVID notwithstanding.

“It’s a rival game, the one team we want to get every year,” Davis said. “We didn’t get to play them last year, but we always want them on the schedule. But we definitely want to have them on the schedule; we’ve been playing them since the sixties and seventies. It’s a tradition we want to keep going. And we get Oly next, so its back-to-back rival games.”

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

edgar7892@yahoo.com