Sports - November 2003

Knights lose hoops debut to Rebels

Published November 19, 2003

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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It was North Lincoln’s first-ever basketball game Tuesday night, but it was not quite the result they were hoping for, falling to the West Lincoln Rebels 77-49 at West.

The Knights kept it close early down, 18-9 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Rebels scored 26 in the second to jump out to a 44-16 advantage at the half.

North’s best scoring quarter was in the third, scoring 18 points, but it was too little too late.

Although they lost, one positive thing North Lincoln head coach Scott Sekal feels his team learned is how much time and energy they’re going to need to be successful.

“Obviously everybody wishes the outcome could’ve been different. But I feel as though varsity basketball games are tough and that the kids realize how hard they’re going to have to work to accomplish what we want to accomplish,” he said.

Taylor Woodie, fresh off the football field, scored 16 points, Josh Fisher had nine and Ryan Huffman and Jake Elmore both contributed with seven for the Rebels.

Wayne White led the Knights with 10 points, Alex Loftin had nine and Adam Shinn chipped in with seven.

West Lincoln head coach Chad Wright felt pretty good about their defensive pressure.

“I was really pleased with our defensive effort in particular in the first half. I am concerned a little bit with the amount of fouls, but pleased with the effort,” he said.

Sekal believes his team has character and was happy with their effort.

“It would’ve been real easy for them to give up, but that just shows the integrity that the kids have. They want to learn and they are going to get better,” he said.

With football season just ending, Sekal hasn’t had much time to work with his inexperienced team.

“I’ve only had these kids really a week. I am proud of them because they are learning a ton. It’s a new concept and new everything. There’s nothing that’s been established that they come into that they have prior knowledge about,” he said.

The coach knows it will ‘take some time’, but as he states.

“I am committed to helping these kids improve in the game of basketball.”

West Lincoln is 1-0 on the young season, while North Lincoln starts out 0-1. The two teams will meet at North Lincoln Friday night.

Wright knows the Knights will be ready.

“We believe North Lincoln will come out really prepared to play Friday. They have some young kids that can really shoot the basketball. I know coach Sekal will have them really ready to play intense basketball Friday night,” he said.

North Lincoln: Brandon Mull 3, Josh Wilkins 2, Darren Johnson 2, Justin Thompson 2, Kenny Bethea 6, Miquan Smith 4, Trey Whiteside 3, Wayne White 10, Alex Loftin 9 and Adam Shinn 7.

West Lincoln: Ben Poole 3, B.J. Holland 12, Matt Cook 6,  Gene Arp 2, Woodie 16, Chase Caldwell 4,  Josh Fisher 9, Ty Curtis 5, Ryan Huffman 7, Matt Edwards 4 and Jake Elmore 7.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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