Mount Royal Girls 49 Concord Christian Girls 29
SUNAPEE – The Mount Royal Knights defeated the Concord Christian Kingsmen in a game that was even more lopsided than the final score would dictate, 49-29.
At the start however, it looked like the Kingsmen stood a chance. Both teams played an extremely slow pace early in the first, just about lulling the crowd to sleep. Concord Christian attacked the offensive boards, turning most missed shots into second or third chances.
However, it was not long before the Knights took complete control. Mount Royal’s Alexis Matte scored 11 of the team’s 14 points in the quarter, giving them a 14-6 lead after one. She would go on to score a game high 23.
In the second, Mount Royal pulled away. They began crashing the offensive boards, after struggling to defend them in the first. “It was probably just better effort,” said Knights Head Coach Derek Tremblay when asked what spurred the rise in rebounds. The defense continued to play with a high amount of intensity, keeping the Kingsmen scoreless to take a 27-6 lead into the half.
The lead only grew for the Knights in the third quarter, as they stretched it to 38-13. The only thing keeping Mount Royal from getting a bigger lead, was their free throw shooting. They went 50% on the night, missing seven of their shots from the line. “It was about our season average,” said Tremblay. “If we make more free throws, the scores would look a lot different.”
Mount Royal played mostly it’s younger squad in the fourth, sitting it’s starters. Against the bench, the Knightsmen were able to go on a mini-run, more than doubling their score for the game in one quarter. They were led in points by Kara Jarvis, who scored 17. Their late push was not enough though, as they fell, 49-29.
With the win, the Knights climb to 11-2 on the season, and into a tie for fourth in Division IV. Tremblay is impressed with his team’s progress this season. “We are definitely getting better. Going forward our main point of emphasis will be our execution.” They look to keep their five game winning streak alive Friday at Wilton-Lyndeborough.
Mount Royal Boys 80 Concord Christian Boys 26
Andrew Noramindin lines up for a free throw against Concord Christian on Wednesday. – Tyler MaheuThe Mount Royal Knights defeated the Concord Christian Kingsmen Wednesday night in a game that was over before the visitors stepped off the bus, 80-26.
The Knights took the opening tip for a fastbreak score, setting the tone immediately. They went on a 9-0 run to start, burying the Kingsmen early. A deep three from Andrew Normandin beat the first quarter buzzer, giving Mount Royal a 21-8 lead.
Things got no easier for the Kingsmen in the second, as the Knights outscored them 24-11 to take a 45-19 lead into halftime. The Kingsmen just never seemed comfortable on offense, with bad shots and erratic passes plaguing them all night.
The third started dangerously when just about every player on the court slammed the court hard as bodies began to fly. This uptick in intensity did not seem to help Concord Christian, as they were again outscored 24-7 in the quarter, leading to a 69-26 deficit going into the third quarter.
Mount Royal saw huge performances from three separate players. Alex Normandin hustled his way to 17 points, while Louis Larosiliere hit multiple shots from behind the arc on his way to 18 points. But, Andrew Normandin shined the brightest, dropping a game high 21, scoring from just about everywhere and recording multiple steals.
For the Kingsmen, they saw a strong performance from Samuel Culkins, who led their team with 11 points.
The fourth period saw both teams play their benches, hoping to get the younger athletes experience on the varsity stage. Mount Royal dominated yet again, holding Concord Christian scoreless, to mercifully end the game, 80-26.
Tonight, Knights’ Coach Matt McMenaman was most impressed with the things he has seen the biggest improvements in all season. “Our ball movement, and finding the open man was great. We played disciplined defense that kept us out of foul trouble,” he said. “The guys are really starting to trust each other. Our patience on offense has greatly improved. Its starting to come together.”
Mount Royal will travel to Wilton-Lyndeborough on Friday.
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