For the second night in a row Continental High Boys Basketball went on the road and scored first. Pirate Alex Sharritts opened up the scoring with a basket to give the Pirates a 2-0. Host Lima Temple Christian then put in 3 baskets to take a 6-2 lead. The Pirates would pour in 8 points to take the lead for good when Gavin Huff made a basket, and Konnor Knipp Williams and Wyatt Davis would both hit a 3. Pirates 10-6. Knipp-Williams would finish up the quarter scoring by going 3-4 from the line for the Pirates. Pirates 13-8 after 1.
The second quarter had the Pirates put in the first 3 points as Davis would hit a free throw and Huff would make a basket. Pirates 16-8. The Pioneers would rally to cut the Pirate lead in half with a made free throw and a 3. The Pirates would take a 9 point lead when Huff would convert a 3 point play and Sharritts and Mason Rayle would each make 1 free throw. A free throw by the Pioneers would be followed up by a pair of Sharrits free throws to make it Pirates 23-13. The Pioneers would bank in a three at the buzzer for a Pirates 23-16 lead at half.
The Pirates would make it a 9 point game when Huff opened up the second half scoring with a basket. Pirates 25-16. A basket by the Pioneers would be followed up by a basket by Sharrits Pirates 27-18. A Pioneer basket left them with 20 points at the end of 3 but the Pirates would add 5 more to their total as Huff would make a basket and Sharritts a 3. Pirates 32-20 after 3.
The Pirates would take control of the game at the start of the fourth quarter as they would string together 4 baskets (2 by Huff and 1 each by Armey and Knipp-Williams) Pirates 40-20. The Pioneers would finish the game outscoring the Pirates 6-4 but the Pirates left Lima as the 44-26 winner.
Konnor Knipp-Williams led the Pirates with 15 points. Gavin Huff scored 12, Alex Sharrits 8, Wyatt Davis 4, Rhenn Armey 2, and Mason Rayle 1. Knipp Williams, Sharrits, and Davis all made one 3 pointer for the Pirates. The Pioneers had one made 3 pointer.
Continental improves to 1-1 and will travel to Hicksville on Friday. Temple Christian falls to 0-2.
Reminder that Saturday’s home game against Lincolnview will be the Continental Volunteer Fire Department Toys for Tots drive.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter