{"id":11892,"date":"2024-01-14T13:04:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-14T18:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=11892"},"modified":"2024-01-14T13:04:24","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T18:04:24","slug":"knights-in-total-control-of-ne8-after-beating-bellmont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/14\/knights-in-total-control-of-ne8-after-beating-bellmont\/","title":{"rendered":"Knights in total control of NE8 after beating Bellmont"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RANDY HISNER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any Bellmont fans who were wondering if the Norwell Knights deserved their #3 ranking in Class 3A came away from the Norwell gym Saturday night thinking that, if anything, maybe the Knights are underrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Knights dismantled a very good Bellmont team (12-5 coming into the game) by a lopsided 52-22 score, validating their status in the state and remaining undefeated (5-0) in the NE8 with two conference games left (New Haven and East Noble). Their overall record is 16-4, all of their losses coming at the hands of highly ranked 4A teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A suffocating defense by the home Knights caused 17 turnovers by the Braves. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Knights employed a 1-3-1 trapping defense the whole game, not only forcing the Braves into 17 turnovers but also flustering their offense.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cScoring against their 1-3-1 was a problem,\u201d admitted Bellmont coach Andy Heim. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to replicate something like that in practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy Heim spoke with the Z Team following his team’s disappointing loss at Norwell. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Norwell coach Eric Thornton agreed that his team\u2019s defense was a big key. \u201cI thought our 1-3-1 was very disruptive,\u201d he said. \u201cOur kids made it hard for them to score and to move to where they wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Head coach Eric Thornton gives directions to his players during a break in Saturday’s game. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even when the Braves avoided initial traps as they crossed the ten-second line, the Knights, with their quickness and athleticism, recovered and continued to apply pressure all over the half court. As a result, the Braves could never get into a flow offensively and rarely got good looks at the basket. The Braves\u2019 anemic shooting percentages\u201432% on twos (7-of-22) and 10% on threes (1-of-10)\u2014reflected the quality of the Norwell defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Norwell defense never allowed Bellmont to get in an offensive rhythm. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Knights started the game with a 7-0 run on a layup by Vanessa Rosswurm, a three-pointer from Kennedy Fuelling, and a nifty Euro-step fast break layup by Makenzie Fuess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Makenzie Fuess (right) led all scorers with 16 points Saturday. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Braves\u2019 Emily Bleke halted the rally with a mid-range jumper at the 4:39 mark, but Norwell\u2019s Dekota Hubble countered with a bucket from the right block. Bleke\u2019s three on the Braves\u2019 next possession pulled the Braves within four at 9-5, but that turned out to be the closest they would get. Norwell ended the quarter with a 14-7 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite missing eight three-pointers in a row in the second quarter, the Knights still managed to outscore the Braves 9-4 to lead 21-11 at halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Norwell’s domination on defense extended to the post. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe thought at halftime that we had played better than a 10-point lead,\u201d Thornton said, referring to his team\u2019s poor second-quarter shooting. \u201cBut that\u2019s the way offense goes sometimes. Our message at halftime was that those are good shots; they\u2019re going to start falling, and we need to keep being who we are. Those are shots that we want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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