The Laurel Knighthawks defeated the #1 PCA Paladins 57-53 at Southeastern Baptist College on Saturday afternoon to capture their first MSAHA Championship since 2013.
The PCA Paladins were running all over Laurel in the first quarter. With long distance bombs from Rashaad Rogers and Daniel Cooper and driving buckets from Colyn Ericksen, the Paladins ran out to a 28-15 lead heading in to the second quarter.
The second quarter was different. The Knighthawks began to reel them in. Though Laurel still couldn’t get going offensively, they stifled the Paladins defensively. They held PCA to two points in the second, yet they only scored nine. The halftime score was 30-24, with PCA in the lead.
The third quarter was all Knighthawks, blowing past the Paladins with a 19-8 third quarter that gave Laurel a 43-38 lead heading in to the fourth.
PCA got right back in it, cutting the lead to one immediately. Senior guard Jack Flynt of the Laurel Knighthawks fouled out with 3 minutes to go in the game, taking the Knighthawks’ primary ball handler away from them.
Laurel was able to manage by handling the ball by committee. But with two minutes to go, Laurel big man Kai Welch injured his knee. He had to come out to set his knee back in to place, and then returned to the ball game. Throughout the rest of the game, he made his way up and down the court stifling the pain, and the Knighthawks were able to hold off the Paladins to win the MSAHA Championship 57-53.
Coach Cliff Jenkins of the Knighthawks had made a deal previously that if they knocked off the Jackson Victors, winner of the last 7 MSAHA titles, he would shave his beard. They did defeat the Victors in overtime on Tuesday night, but the players wanted to wait until they won the championship, and they did.
