Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Flight Crown BBall 2009

All five Flight starters reached double figures as the Flight boys cruised to a 73-60 win at Kings Academy Tuesday night. The JV Boys pulled away to win, with Conner scoring 31 of his team’s 53 points. In the spirit of the Christmas season, the Flight girls let Crown win for a change.

Flight….19…39…56…73

Crown…13…27...41…60

The Flight boys outscored Crown in each of the first three quarters, despite resting several starters for extended stretches throughout the game. In the first stanza Flight had short scoring runs of five and eight points, only to have Crown answer with a six point run. A 4 steal and pass ahead for a Conner lay-up opened the scoring. DJ sank a foul shot, then 23 drove for a lay-up. DJ was fouled after rebounding, and sank another free throw. 4 scored on a fastbreak lay-up, then 13 scored on a runner. Conner drove the lane for two. DJ sank two foul shots, and passed to 4 for a three-pointer. Conner grabbed two rebounds, and scored on the putback.

In the second quarter Flight went on runs of seven and nine, before Crown responded with a ten point run. DJ scored on a runner. Conner made a steal, drove downcourt, was fouled, and made a free throw. He made another steal on the next possession and as Conner leaped to lay the ball in, a Crown defender barely deflected the ball. Conner then made a lightning-quick ball adjustment, and the ball still went in the basket. Play of the game.

After trading baskets, Flight scored the last seven points in the half. Kevin scored once, and 13 twice. 23 grabbed two rebounds, then scored on a putback. Flight moved the ball around as the seconds ticked down, finally passing to DJ in the corner. He looked to pass, saw the clock, went up, and nailed the three with 3 seconds on the clock.

At halftime several students showed off dance moves, including Lucy, Elizabeth, Mary, Kaitlyn, and Rhianna. Woodard sported a hat and vest, and was joined by Caleb the Elf, decking the halls in a lime green hat, vest, and shoes. It took Mrs. Switzer and me another hour to realize they were Santa and Helper. The usual pack of students ringed the balcony, including Lucy, Meg, Sarah, Christine, Christiana, Charles, David, Kyle, Niq, Alec, Joshua, several Pratts, Jonathan Blair, his sister Jen, Avery, Alyssa, Will, and Lucy.

Mrs. Keller reported Libby’s jury went well, but Mr. Keller and Mr. Bailey were tending to a sick truck. Mrs. Norman brings home Willis Thursday, and Catherine & Spencer will also be home for Christmas. No one mentioned Ben Hoffer. Matthew was ribbed by Crown teammates for hanging with his Living Science friends. Mr. Leiner rocked a dashing new goatee. Lila sat with us for a while. Lucy texted with abandon.

A nine point third quarter run by Crown cut the lead to six, but Flight answered, scoring the last six of the period. 23 rebounded and scored on the putback, 13 blocked a shot and fed 23 for another two. 23 then grabbed two more boards and sank two free throws. Conner passed to 4, who sank a three, and then scored again. 13 drew a charge. 4 assisted on a Kevin basket. DJ went inside to score. As the quarter drew to a close no one could get a handle on the ball. Kevin finally grabbed it, methodically turned around and shot. As the buzzer sounded the ball went in, and Kevin pumped his fist in the air.

Kevin kept things going as the fourth quarter started, slicing a pass inside to Conner, cutting through the lane for a basket. DJ scored two baskets, and then was taken out of the game with 6:02 remaining. An eight point run extended the Flight lead to 23 points, and Conner and other starters were also taken out. Kevin scored once and 13 three times…once on a killer behind-the-back move to the basket.

Isaac and the Four J’s finished the game: Jordan, Josh, Joe, and Joel. Joel helped with the ball-handling and was fouled three times…one time being slung across the court. Later he was able to return the favor, delivering a hard foul to foil a Crown fast break. Joe fed Isaac for the last score of the game.

DJ…15 points, 6 rebounds, one assist & steal

Conner…11 points, 4 boards, assist, 3 steals

# 23…10 points, 7 rebounds, one block

# 4…10 points, 2 rebounds & assists, steal

# 13…10 points, one assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks

Kevin…8 points, 4 boards, assist, 3 steals

Isaac…4 points, one steal

Joel…one point, rebound, and block

Josh…one rebound and block

Joe…one rebound and assist

Jordan…one rebound

With Danielle and several key players sitting out the fourth quarter nursing wounds, the Flight Girls would have still beaten Crown had they made all their free throws.

Flight….2…10…19…24

Crown…4…14…30…40

In a low-scoring first quarter Crown went ahead 4-2. Flight scored first on a jumper by 13. Courtney had four rebounds in the quarter, and Danielle had three. Flight alumni Jessica sat on the bench to provide support.

The teams traded baskets throughout the second quarter, but a quick five-point Crown run gave the Knights the lead for good. 12 had five of the team’s eight second-quarter points, and assisted on a Courtney jumper. Kathleen scampered about, wearing a knee brace almost as big as she.

Danielle was everywhere in the third quarter, with 3 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist, steal, and wicked blocked shot. Shelby grabbed a rebound and passed ahead to Courtney, who drained a three-pointer. The teams continued to swap scores. Fighting for a rebound with 6.2 seconds left in the quarter, two players from each team hit the court hard. Danielle was helped to the bench, unable to return. Kaitlyn gave her a backrub, Kathleen checked her pupils, and DJ came downstairs to console.

A five-point Crown run early in the fourth extended the lead to fourteen. Shelby made two foul shots and scored off a rebound. Flight emptied the bench, filling the game with fresh faces who smiled with every rebound, steal, and foul. Madonna missed a shot, but grabbed a rebound. The last two Crown buckets gave them the biggest lead of the night, at the end of the game.

# 12……7 points, and one rebound, assist, and steal

Courtney…5 points, 6 rebounds

Danielle…4 points, 8 boards, one assist & block, 2 steals

Shelby…4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal

# 13……2 points, 4 rebounds, one steal and block

Kathleen…one rebound and steal

Madonna…rebound

# 2……rebound

# 31……steal

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