The Greenon Knights men’s basketball team hosted Graham on Friday, December 20 in the team’s second Mad River Division contest of the season. The Knights entered the game on a three game losing streak, with the last being a 64-27 loss to Tecumseh. Greenon came into the game at (1-4) overall and (0-1) in the division. Graham was (1-2) overall and (1-0) in Mad River division play. The game had been postponed twice before, but the weather finally allowed the rivalry to take place.
The two teams seemed to already be looking forward to their holiday breaks in the first quarter, as both offenses were sloppy and imprecise. Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage, with Greenon leading 6-5 at the end of the quarter. However, the teams kicked it in gear in the second quarter and began scoring at a higher pace. Graham led 19-15 at halftime, and it was clear that the first team over 40 would most likely prevail.
Greenon came out from halftime energized and focused, as they dominated the third quarter and pulled within one point, 26-25, at the end of the quarter. Both offenses exploded in the fourth quarter, with Greenon outscoring the visitors 17-14 in the quarter to win 42-40. The team’s offensive outburst is extremely impressive considering that the Knights scored more in the quarter than they did in all of the first half.
Junior Tyler Restau led the team with 17 points and added two rebounds and assists. Fellow junior Aiden Stockton scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds in the post. Senior Jacob Riegel scored six points and added five rebounds. Junior Jacob Whetsel scored three points and six rebounds, with fellow junior Chase Green scoring three points and snagging three steals.
Greenon plays Yellow Springs, Urbana and Southeastern in the coming week. Urbana currently leads the division at (4-3) overall and (3-0) in divisional play. The Knights split two contests with Urbana last season, and lost to Yellow Springs. 69-59. The upcoming week will go a long way toward determining the type of season it will be for the Knights.