Wheels fall off the bus

for Knights at North Kitsap

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

POULSBO – Things were a lot different from the last time the Bremerton Knights played the North Kitsap Vikings.

In their last game, the Knights stayed close but the Vikings pulled away for a 64-46 win in the Eathorne Gym on January 5. But in the second meeting of the season, the Vikings put the hammer down and often in blowing out the Knights 74-32 in the North Kitsap gym.

The Knights were down 22-14 midway through the second quarter when the Vikings went on not one but two scoring runs to close the half with a 37-20 lead. They continued the onslaught in the second half, holding the Knights to just 12 points in the half.

“We were right there down by ten in the first half,” pointed out Bremerton coach Miah Davis. “Then we gave up a run, an 8-0 run towards the end of the first half. That’s demoralizing for anybody, because we were playing so well, staying within the game. It was a ten-point game, then we gave up a run right before half.

In the second half, the Vikings kept building upon the lead, and got to a 40-point margin early in the fourth quarter at 69-29, triggering the mercy rule clock.

“We have to make adjustments the next time we play or play anyone for that matter,” he continued, “and understand the importance of certain players, and what we need to do with the game plan and stick to the game plan.”

Bremerton shot just 26 percent from the floor (11-43) and was 60 percent from the foul line (6-10), and were outrebounded 32-23 by the Vikings. Samuel Tucker was the only player in double figures for the Knights (4-8 Olympic League, 4-12 overall) with 10 points.

The North Kitsap gym was filled on both bleachers and riding high on emotion, as KING 5 television arrived to film a story on the Vikings. The hosts would later celebrate when Cade Orness scored his 1000^th career point early in the third quarter on his way to a game high 26 points. Harry Davies added 24 points for the Vikings.

“I told the team this was the best environment to play in,” Davis said. “In my experience, my coaches told me to shut them up. Its not what’s going on around you; the best thing to do is quiet the noise. That was my message to them today.

“We had our opportunities to stay within the game,” Davis said, “and North Kitsap played well.”

The Knights have one more game to go against Kingston on Thursday night to close out the season.

Bremerton     5 15 6 6 - 32

North Kitsap 18 19 27 10 - 74

Samuel Tucker - 10 pts, 6 reb

Devonsei Johnson - 7 pts

Dyon Sellers - 5 pts

Isaiah Cadengo - 5 pts

Oliver Christian - 3 pts

Trenton Bulmer - 2 pts

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

edgar7892@yahoo.com