Jacob Yeary gets a small step on Andy Osborne as he slices to the rim.
Separated by less than five miles, Cumberland Gap and J. Frank White both have great basketball teams; however, it was only the boy’s teams meeting on the hardwood in Mars Gymnasium, January 4. Cumberland Gap has been fighting injuries for the better part of the season and they are just starting to see what they can do as a team. The Knights are 6-5 on the season but Coach Dennis Ramsey knew this game would be a tough one.
When the ball tipped off, it was the Knights that went out on a 6-1 run forcing the Panthers to get a quick timeout. The three-point shot was dropping for the home team, and they rolled on out to a 12-3 lead. The Knights were aggressive on defense and by the end of the first period led 23-5. The Panthers made a run during the second period but the insane pace of three-point shooting by the Knights slowed but never stopped. The Knights led at the half, 38-21.
During the third period, scoring slowed again but the Knights were still well on their way to defending their home court. The score after three periods was 52-29. With 4:16 left in the final period, Cumberland Gap was making a run that called for a quick timeout by the Knights. The score at the timeout was 54-35 in favor of J. Frank White. Cumberland Gap pulled to within 14 points late, but the Knights rolled away to a nice victory at 59-44.
Sharpshooter, Jacob Yeary hit six three-pointers, shot 75 percent from behind the arc but didn’t lead the team in scoring. He finished with 19 points. Adam Turley was nearly unstoppable as he led the Knights with 21 points including five three-pointers. Ryan Saylor had seven points, Aiden Troutman dropped in six, Samuel Rhodes had three and three others had a single point including Jacob Christopher, Ben Hamilton and Bryson Stoner. In total, The Knights hit 13 three-pointers.
Knight Adam Turley (15) shoots over Trace Provins on his way to 21 points
Cumberland Gap had nine players record scores, but none were in double figures. Trace Provins had eight, Andy Osborne had seven, Gabriel Peterson had six as did Gavin Owens, Lance Owens dropped in five as did Aiden Jackson. Isaac Brown had three, Kaleb Powers and Elijah Lawson both finished with two points.
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