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Knights’ Basketball Fast Breaks into State Playoffs
By: Destinie Vick & Michelle Terenzio
Cana Mariott hydrates as Coach Little talks about the next play. Courtesy of Yearbook staff
The Knightdale basketball teams are working hard in practice in an attempt to reach the state playoffs. The varsity girls began the week ranked 4th in the GNRC conference (the top 5 go to the state playoffs). Varsity girls’ coach Anissa Little said, “The way we practice is usually how we play.” Lately, they have been practicing and playing well, defeating the Garner Trojans at Garner in the first round of the Greater Neuse River Conference tournament, 45-40. They have an overall record of 8-17, but are playing their best basketball now, when it really counts. Little mentioned Cana Marriott, Syerra Troutman, and Amber Wright (the only freshmen on the varsity) as standouts on this year’s team. The girls will finish the season with the remainder of the GNRC conference tournament the week of February 15-19 and sectionals begin on February 22.
The Boys varsity basketball team is working to fulfill its goals too. They are currently third in their conference, having beaten Harnett Central in the first round of the GNRC tournament Tuesday, February 17. Their overall record is 13-11. Aaron Smith’s dedication, Ahmad Abdullah’s improvement, and Steven Geter’s famous dunks have given the Knights high hopes entering the state playoffs.
The JV boys season was a tremendous success. Officer Mark Batey, an assistant coach of the JV basketball team said “The boys work hard in every practice and that they really are overachieving.” They’re overall record was 19-4. Batey named Curry Lassiter as a standout player, scoring more then 300 points this season and having a monstrous slam dunk, Tuesday February 9th, at home against the Clayton Comets, where he made 16 points. Batey also mentioned Jalen Jones, who has played three different positions this year and has performed well on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.
Both the girls and boys basketball teams encourage you to come out and support them on their journey through the playoffs.
