On Friday, two days after Pirate nation said good bye to 2021 CHS alum Wyatt Davis, Continental hosted Paulding in non league battle. Both team fans, coaches, and teams showed up in either yellow, cancer awareness, or #Davisstrong shirts in remembrance of Wyatt. The game could not have started better for the Pirates with Konnor Kinpp Williams putting in the first field goal of the season. After the Panthers tied it up with a basket, Carson Etter put the Pirates up 5-2 with a 3. The Panthers would respond with a pair of 3s and a basket to take the lead for good 10-5. A Knipp Williams free throw would stop the Panther run 10-6 Panthers. A Panther basket would be followed up by a Monty Rayle 3 to make it a 3 point game after 1, Panthers 12-9 after 1.
The Panthers would open up the second quarter scoring with a 3 to take a 15-9 lead. Knipp Williams would hit a basket to make it 15-11 Panthers. A 6 point Panther run was stopped when Mason Rayle hit a 3 to make it 21-14 Panthers. The Panthers would put up the next 12 points with that run being stopped by a Carson Etter 3. Panthers 33-17. A pair of Panthers put them up by 20 points 37-17. Knipp Williams would close out the half’s scoring with a 3 point play. Paulding 37-20 at half.
The Panthers would put in the first 7 points of the second half to taka 44-20 lead. A Knipp Williams basket would make it 44-22 Panthers. The teams would trade the next 10 points with the Pirates 5 coming from a pair of Knipp Williams free throws and a Mason Rayle 3. Panthers 49-27. The Panthers would outscore the Pirates 8-3 to finish off the quarter. Monty Rayle hit a 3 for the Pirates points. Panthers 57-30 after 3.
The Panthers would put in 8 of the first 10 points of the fourth quarter with Carson Etter putting in a basket. Panthers 65-32. The Pirates would outscore the Panthers 15-5 for a 70-38 Panther final.
Konnor Knipp Williams led the Pirates with 15 points. Carson Etter, Mason Rayle, and Jonathon Etter would all score 8 points. Monty Rayle scored 6, Rhenn Armey 2, and Brady Thomsen 1. Carson Etter, Mason Rayle, Jonathon Etter, and Monty Rayle would all hit two 3-pointers. Both teams made eight 3-pointers.
Continental falls to 0-1 and will host Lima Temple Christian on Saturday. Paulding starts the season 1-0.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
