The Greenon Knights overcame a slow start last Tuesday night, to win their second in as many games, 71-65 over Northeastern at the Greenon gym.  Despite 34 points from Daniel Lenk and Sterling Shoemaker, Greenon gave a strong team effort in going 2-0 for the first time in eight years.  Anthony Colletti had 24 points and 16 rebounds, and Josh Pilcher put in 22.  Good numbers indeed, but Coach Tim Lacy said, “If it wouldn’t have been for Brandon McNeil and Aaron DeBolt, we couldn’t have won.”  Both played major minutes after senior post Josh Bannick sprained his right ankle in the second quarter.  McNeil played stellar defense, and DeBolt blocked six shots.  
The game opened with a sluggish effort on defense.

Travis Hardesty and Lenk got inside for easy baskets, as the Jets took off to a 10-3 lead.  The Knights were a bit out of sync offensively as well, standing around waiting for something to happen.  Pilcher hit a trey from the corner to get the team going; Colletti then put back a miss, and the game was on. It was 16-12 Jets after one.
Pilcher picked his second foul very early in the second, but he stayed in.  It was 24-21 when Bannick fell to the floor after hitting a layup.  Play stopped for several minutes, and the pause seemed to help.  The defense improved right away.   Seth Currier broke out of his shooting slump with two three pointers in a row, but Hardesty scored from the paint to end the half, with the Jets leading by one.
Cody Carpenter opened the second half with a three that gave the Knights the lead, then Colletti got going.  He scored 11 in the third quarter, going five of five from the stripe. Pilcher added eight as Greenon built  a 45-35 lead. Shoemaker and Lenk brought the Jets back.  At 51-45, the matter wasn’t settled yet.
Colletti committed his fourth foul only seconds into the fourth period, and the Jets got to within two. It was then that Pilcher stepped in.  The senior guard took charge in a way he didn’t do last season.  After a Greenon time out, he drove the lane and scored on two consecutive possessions.   Currier hit two free throws, after which Colletti scored the next eight for Greenon.  The Jets turned the ball over  with 1:16 left, and Carpenter nailed things down with a bucket and a free throw.  
Lacy did not get too high over his team’s flying start.  “You really don’t know what kind of team you have until after Christmas,” he said. “We’ll just keep plugging on.”  The Knights faced Bellefontaine on Tuesday, no doubt eager to avenge a nasty loss in last year’s opening playoff game.  Look for that story  next week.  See you at the game!