2 games highlighted in an evening of suspense as Knight's teams took on USA Select in pre season battle.
Over 130 people decended on Sport St. Mary's Arena on Thursday evening to watch as the Knights Men's squad and the Knights Men's Alumni faced off against USA Select. The USA Select team, run by Director and former Head Coach Sean Kilmartin, gather together player from across the USA to form a team to compete in Europe in hopes to gain exposure for the young talent.
“Once we are finished with tonights game, lets book in next next year” Sean Kilmartin
The first game of the night saw the Knights Men's Alumni face off against the USA Select B and it was a rollercoaster of a game. Both teams played very agressivly but it was the Knights Alumni that took the a big lead into the second half. The USA team were not harpered though and brought the game back, to within 2. After an amazing final seconds turn-around jump shot from Boardman-Raffet (who top scored with 23 on the night) the scores were tied at the end of the 4th quarter and the game would go into overtime. The overtime began a close battle, however a few successive baskets from the USA team and the game was sealed. The game finished with USA Select winning 75-74.
The Knights Men's team then faced off against USA Select A and donning their new kit, supplied by SUPA, they were hoping to be able to clinch a win for the Knights. The game started off much different from the first. USA Select began the game with a fast pace and some explosive plays. The Knights Men struggled to maintain possession with the long arms of the USA defence tipping passes away that led to easy fast break layups. Bastian Moseley tried to stop the bleading with 4 made 3 pointers but the first quarter ended with the Knights trailing by 6. The second quarter was where team USA Select took it to another level, on the back of Williams 18 point quarter, the USA team steamed ahead to go into half time with a 30pt lead. A performance from Resolution Dance Company at half time, looked to pump up the Knights players as well as the crowd going into the second half! It worked, as the second half saw more fight from the Knights Men's with them holding the USA Select squad to just 9 points in the 3rd quarter. Hoping to close in on the USA squad Knights gave it one last push, however the damage had been done and the game finished with a final score 55-85.
'We have had a good pre-season so far but tonight wasnt our night. Apart from us missing 4 starting players, we just played poor offensively in the first half. We didnt take care of the ball and we missed some defensive assignments. As long as we learn from our mistakes and improve off the back of this game we wil be fine.' Bastian Moseley
The USA Select team now go onto compete across Europe but wil be back next year for the Knights to hhave their revenge!
Top Scorers
Game 1
Boardman-Raffet - 23
Sheema - 15
P.Asante - 8
Game 2
Bastian Moseley - 17
Davidson - 8
Edwards - 7
As always thank you to all of our sponsors and everyone that helps make game days a success! Solopress