Date: June 04, 2008 at 23:38

The 11th grade Knights averaged over 70 points per game, by far the most of any team in the state championship event, but went cold from the floor in the fourth quarter Sunday and dropped a hard faught game to the VBC Hawks 56-52 in the semi-finals of the USSSA State Championships in Richmond. The Knights succummed to mounting foul problems, a pair of ill-placed technical fouls that ended momentum changing runs, and a sluggish start as their title hopes faded despite charging back to have the win within reach in the final minutes. As bad as the foul problems were (the Hawks scored 15 points at the charity stripe in the game, more points than the Knights had free throw opportunities), the Knights stayed within striking distance in the 2nd half. The third quarter was nip and tuck as both teams traded baskets but the Hawks maintained the lead throughout. In the fourth quarter, the Knights cut the seemingly confused and frustrated Hawks lead to a single basket and had the ball. Then came a cold shooting stretch that ended with the Knights missing 3 straight fast break lay-ups and four three pointers and finding themselves now down once again by 6 points. The Knights could not muster another run and the Hawks survived the battle of 2007 national championship teams 56-52.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL GAME:

VBC 18 15 11 12 -- 56
Knights 9 13 17 13 -- 52
Scoring: Daniels (6), Lewis (2), Poitillo (8), Elliott (10), Holmes (14), Cooper (10) Walker (2).

Game 1:

Knights 79, VBC Eagles 44

Keith Cooper scored a game high 24 points as the Knights broke the game open after a nip and tuck 1st quarter.
Scoring: Lewis (10), Poittilo (11), Elliott (9), Holmes (16), Cooper (24), Edwards (7), Walker (2).

Game 2:

Knights 61, Mechanicsville Bucs 52

The Knights squandered a 24 point lead after the Bucs rallied to go on a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter, unloading a 3-point barrage on the Knights suddenly content defensive effort. Tracy Elliott calmed the Knights in the fourth quarter scoring 5 of his game high 16 points in the games final minute. Elliott also grabbed a game high 18 rebounds as the Knights held off the Bucs late game charge. Keith Cooper added 15 points in the win.
Scoring: Lewis (6), Poittilo (10), Elliott (16), Holmes (10), Cooper (15), Walker (2).

Game 3:

Knights 87, Tri-County Nets 54

Driscoll Edwards came off the bench to score a game high 25 points and spark the Knights to a 33 point blowout. Edwards hit 5 treys in the game and Dravon Poittilo added four more to lead the way. 6'5 sophomore Juandrico Walker had 8 points, 7 rebounds and 7 blocked shots in his first significant game action for the Knights.
Scoring: Daniels (6), Lewis (10), Poittilo (19), Elliott (6), Holmes (6), Cooper (7), Edwards (25), Walker (8).