East Ridge High School Knights BasketBall Recap – Week Two

written by Grant Mollett, M.Ed.
East Ridge High School

The Knights played three games in their second week but unfortunately were unable to secure a victory.  See below for full game recaps and statistics from week two.

December 10, 2019 – Windermere, Florida

The East Ridge High School boys’ basketball team traveled to Windermere on Tuesday night to play Windermere High School. No doubt, the Windermere, an 8A state semifinalist last season, proved to be the biggest challenge on East Ridge’s schedule this season.

The Wolverines of Windermere came out firing, as they started the game off with a 9-0 run off of three successful three-point shots.  Junior Julian Cheese responded with the first bucket for the Knights, but the Wolverines continued their three-point barrage, hitting a total of five three-pointers in the first quarter.  The Wolverines held the Knights to merely six points in the first quarter securing a 23-6 lead.  Windermere continued with their high-octane offense in the second quarter, starting with another 9-0 run off a three-pointer and three straight field goals.  Once again, Julian Cheese responded with a basket to break the run, but Windermere succeeded on another three-point shot.  The Knights struggled to keep up with the Wolverines, who made their eighth three-point shot of the half as the second quarter ended. Windermere led at halftime, 42-18.

The third quarter was more of the same by Windermere who made good on four more three-pointers.  The Knights continued to struggle offensively, scoring just nine points off of four field goals and a foul shot in the third quarter.  The period ended with Windermere having extended its 19-point lead to a 36-point lead, 62-27.  In the fourth quarter, Windermere put the Knights away by outscoring them 15-7 off of five field goals, two foul shots, and a three-pointer.  The Wolverines made 13 three-pointers in the game to secure their victory against East Ridge, winning 78-34.

The Knights’ record fell to 2 wins and 2 losses with a loss to Windermere High School on Tuesday evening. The Knights were led in scoring by junior Julian Cheese with 17 points. Additionally, sophomore Roshaun Thomas contributed 6 points. The Knights were led in rebounds by junior Julian Cheese who contributed 4 rebounds. East Ridge was led in assists by senior Treasure Bennett who contributed 2 assists. The Knights were led in steals by junior Julian Cheese with 1 steal. As a team, the Knights struggled to take care of the ball, amassing 22 turnovers in the game.  Additionally, the Knights went 0 for 10 from behind the arc, and shot 36% from the field and 46% from the foul line.

December 12, 2019 – St. Cloud, Florida

The East Ridge High School boys’ basketball team returned to action on Thursday evening, as they traveled to Osceola County to play the Saint Cloud Bulldogs. The Knights had just come off a big loss to Windermere on Tuesday night and hoped to score a win against Saint Cloud.

The game began sluggishly from an offensive standpoint, as there was only one made basket in the first four minutes of the game.  It appeared Saint Cloud was going to struggle with East Ridge’s big men, as junior Julian Cheese and Senior Treasure Bennett accounted for all ten of East Ride’s first-quarter points.  Julian Cheese ended the quarter with a slam dunk off of an inbounds play.  The Bulldogs struggled to muster much of an offense against East Ridge’s defense, as they trailed the Knights 10-3 at the end of the first quarter.  The action picked up in the second quarter, as did Saint Cloud’s offense and intensity.  The Bulldogs began the second quarter with a 10-0 run, making good on a three-pointer, a successful three-point play off of an East Ridge foul, and two field goals in the first three minutes, which put them up 10-13.  The Knights and the Bulldogs continued to battle, as there were three lead changes throughout the second quarter. Julian Cheese’s foul shot tied the game in the fourth minute of the second quarter. Senior Dawson Metcalf followed up with a field goal to regain the lead for the Knights. However, the Bulldogs responded with nine consecutive points in the last three minutes of the half, making good on three field goals and a three-point shot.  The Bulldogs retook the lead at halftime, 22-15.

The Bulldogs put in two three-pointers to begin the second quarter.  The Knights tried to answer, as Julian Cheese and Treasure Bennet responded with a field goal each.  However, the Bulldogs retaliated with their third three-pointer of the quarter, and two consecutive field goals, which extended their lead to 16 points, the Bulldogs’ biggest lead of the game, 19-35, halfway through the third quarter.  Then, sophomore Roshaun Thomas was fouled on a made layup and capitalized on his foul shot.  The Knights followed up with four unanswered field goals and ended the quarter on a steal and long court assist by junior Jhon Viana-Filho to Julian Cheese for a breakaway layup.  The Knights were able to chip away at Saint Cloud’s lead, as the third quarter ended 35-30.  The fourth quarter was contentious and physical, as both teams were in the foul shot double bonus throughout the final quarter.  Both teams made six trips to the foul line in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, with East Ridge capitalizing on just one for four foul shots, while Saint Cloud capitalized on four for eight foul shots.  Roshaun Thomas would once again drive the basket, score the layup, and go to the line, and convert on his foul shot.  Thomas’s three-point play cut Saint Cloud’s lead to three points, 39-36, with four minutes to go in the game.  Both teams continued the physical play in the final three minutes of the game, as there were eleven more visits to the foul line.  In the final minute of play, Julian Cheese was fouled on a breakaway layup attempt.  Cheese was able to make one of two foul shots, which but the lead to one point, 41-40.  The Bulldogs responded, making one of two from the line after being fouled by the Knights.  Julian Cheese returned to the line one more time, and made both foul shots, tying the game 43-43 with less than thirty seconds to play.  The Bulldogs retaliated with a field goal, making the score 45-43.  The Knights went back to the stripe, but unfortunately, senior Austin Grant was unable to make good on his two free-throw attempts.  The Knights were able to make a defensive stop and took possession of the ball one final time.  Julian Cheese attempted a three-point shot off a sideline inbound, but it rattled out.  The Knights had to foul in order to stop the clock, and the Bulldogs made one of two foul shots in the final seconds of the game.  In a valiant effort, East Ridge fell to Saint Cloud by a score of 46-43.

The Knights’ record fell to 2 wins and 3 losses with a loss to St. Cloud High School on Thursday evening. The Knights were led in scoring by Junior Julian Cheese with 21 points. Senior Dawson Metcalf contributed 6 points. Julian Cheese led the Knights in rebounds, grabbing 9 total. Junior Isaiah Morgan led the Knights with 3 assists and junior Jhon Viana-Filho led the Knights with 1 steal.   The Knights outrebounded the Bulldogs 30 to 21 but allowed the Bulldogs 14 offensive rebounds.  The Knights continued to struggle to take care of the basketball, tallying 19 total turnovers.  Additionally, the Knights continued to struggle in their shooting, going 0 for 3 from the three-point line and shooting 13 for 28 (46%) from the foul line.

December 13, 2019 – Clermont, Florida

The East Ridge High School boys’ basketball team took to the court on Friday evening, as they played host to their cross-town rival Lake Minneola High School.

The Hawks won the tip and took it right to the Knights’ basket, but they were immediately denied with a block at the rim by junior Julian Cheese.  The Hawks inbounded and tried once again to score inside, but Cheese responded with a second block, as the game began with some great defensive play!  Unfortunately, Cheese came up limp after landing awkwardly.  Cheese played the next series of offense, and scored a basket, but struggled to run up and down the court.  He would leave the game, and attempt to return in the second half, but was unable to continue due to the ankle sprain.  With the Knights’ leader sidelined, East Ridge needed good play from the rest of the team.  In spite of injury, the Knights secured a 12-7 lead against Minneola to end the first quarter.  The Hawks took flight in the second quarter, running off ten unanswered points in the first five minutes, taking the lead from the Knights, 14-12.  Senior Treasure Bennett responded by making three of four foul shots, and junior Isaiah Morgan made good on two foul shots to close the quarter.  However, the Hawks held onto their lead, as the score sat at 19-17 going into halftime.

Senior Dawson Metcalf tied the game early in the third quarter with a quick field goal, but unfortunately, the Knights could not follow up and convert on a couple of technical foul shots. In fact, the Knights went cold from the line, making zero of their four attempts.  The Hawks were able to outscore the Knights 10-4 in the third quarter, extending their lead, 29-21.  Things got worse for the Knights in the fourth quarter, as the Hawks started the final period with an 11-2 run.  The Knights also struggled from the line, making just five of eleven attempts in the fourth quarter.  The Hawks outscored the Knights 17-13 in the final period and handed East Ridge their fourth loss of the season. The final score was 46-34.

The Knights’ record fell to 2 wins and 4 losses with a loss to Lake Minneola High School on Friday evening. The Knights were led in scoring by seniors Dawson Metcalf and Kyle Stanley with 8 points each. Additionally, senior Treasure Bennett contributed 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. The Knights were led in steals by junior Isaiah Morgan with 2 steals. The Knights were outrebounded by the Hawks 27 to 26 and gave up 16 offensive rebounds to the Hawks.  As well, the Knights shot just 48% from the foul line, and only scored only 12 field goals for the entire game.  The Knights failed to take care of the ball against the Hawks and committed 21 turnovers.

The Knights will play two away games next week, as they travel to play Mount Dora High School on Monday 12/16 and Ridge Community (Haines City) on Tuesday 12/17.  The Knights will wrap up the week with three games in the DME Sports Academy Christmas Classic on Thursday (12/19), Friday (12/20), and Saturday (12/21).  The Knights will play against First Baptist Christian Academy out of Bunnell at 3:00 on Thursday.  On Friday, the Knights will play Crooms Academy out of Sanford at 1:30.  On Saturday, the Knights will play against DME Sports Academy at 10:30.  All games will be held at the DME Sports Academy Sports Complex in Daytona Beach. For more information, follow this link: https://www.daytonabeach.com/event/dme-christmas-classic-basketball-tournament/41412/.