[Ridgeland, MS] As stated in the preview article of this game, the Knighthawks suffered for many years devastating losses at the hands of the Jackson Victors. Laurel regularly lost by last second shots, and last second missed opportunities. On Tuesday night, it ended the exact same way; but this time, Laurel came out on top. A game that saw the Knighthawks down by 11 entering the fourth quarter ended as one of the greatest comebacks in Laurel Knighthawk history.
Laurel started the game flat by allowing 9 points before scoring their first field goal. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 15-9 favoring the Victors. The second quarter wasn’t much better for the Knighthawks. The half ended with a score of 25-19. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 44-33. With Laurel down 11, the Knighthawks would have to stage a comeback for the ages.
Slowly but surely, Laurel ate away at the Victors’ lead. Every time the Knighthawks would enter striking distance, Jackson would expand their lead. Kai Welch highlighted the fourth quarter, scoring a smooth and quiet 10 points.
With a minute left in the game, the score was 59-53. Eli Carter nailed a mid-range jumper to put the Knighthawks within 4. With a great defensive stop, Silas Ensign dribbled down the court and took a short jumper. This shot fell short and the rebound was gathered by a Victor. As a Jackson guard dribbled the ball down the court, Ensign stripped the ball away. The ball found its way into the hands of Laurel forward, Caleb Jenkins, who passed the ball to Kai Welch. Welch took one dribble, and in a very nonchalant way, nailed a three. With 8 seconds left, Ensign fouled a Victor. The Victors were in the 1-and-1 bonus, and lined up for the free throws.
This game was decided in eight seconds, and those last eight seconds merit their own paragraph. As the free throw went up, it fell just short. Welch came down with the rebound. Knighthawks coach, Cliff Jenkins, called timeout with four seconds to go. Carter was tasked with the duty of inbounding the ball. Laurel was down a single point, 59-58. As tensions mounted, the teams planned for the final showdown. The Victors posted three defenders at half court. Ensign read the play beautifully, posting up his defender just past half court. Carter channeled his inner Patrick Mahomes by dropping a beautiful pass just over Ensign’s shoulder. What happened next seemed to take place in slow motion. Ensign dribbled the ball all the way to the hoop and placed it in. The clock ran out with the Knighthawks leading 59-60. The Laurel Knighthawks led the game for exactly 1 second…the only second that counted.
This game is one of the greatest comebacks in Knighthawks history. It was also a game in which Laurel shot terribly. The team connected with their first three pointer in the fourth quarter. However, Laurel played team ball. Three of the starting five scored double digits, highlighted by Ensign’s and Jenkins’s 15 points. The game symbolizes perfectly the phrase “never quit”. The Knighthawks have a rich history of grinding out ball games. Tuesday’s contest was a great example of that.
The Laurel Knighthawks (5-1)[3-0] will be on the road Thursday to take on the Muddy River Counselors. Tip-off is at 7:30 P.M.
