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.”
Knoxville Senior Kieren Nichols has been nominated for the McDonald’s High School All-America games. Nichols is one of over 700 high school players from across the country to be nominated for this honor. Knoxville Interim Boys Basketball Coach Matt Ritchhart tells KNIA/KRLS Sports Nichols’ work ethic is one of many reasons he was honored with this nomination.
Ritchhart:
“There’s a reason he’s put up the number he’s put up is because the countless amount of hours he’s put in when other kids are at home or doing whatever. He drives to Des Moines to put in the work, and he’s a great player and a great person.”
The Knoxville Boys and Girls Basketball Squads swept Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Friday night both winning by double digit margins 55-45 in the girls game and 73-61 in the boys contest heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The girls were good again defensively in the first half only allowing 15 points in the first 16 minutes of play and forcing ten Rocket turnovers. After getting the lead to 17 points, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont went on a 13-0 run to cut the lead to four only to see Knoxville finish on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter. Coach Jim Uitermarkt told KNIA/KRLS Sports it was the patience that his team showed that impressed him the most.
One night after being shocked by Clarke, the Knoxville Girls basketball Squad allowed Albia next to nothing in a 61-31 victory while the Panthers boys were defeated by the Blue Demons 62-53 in games heard live on 95.3 KNIA. In the girls game, the Panthers completely shut down the Lady Dees allowing no field goals in the first half and shutting out Albia in the second quarter. Coach Jim Uitermarkt told KNIA/KRLS Sports after the bad night on Monday, the girls were motivated to wash away the memories and get back to winning.
Uitermarkt:
“We just decided after yesterday, make the girls get after it defensively. We’re not built for that but we just decided to make them guard full court man-to-man and get a sweat going, and we’re glad we made that decision.”