On Thursday night, third place was on the line as host Continental and Pandora Gilboa played in a Putnam County League battle. A win would put the Pirates in a 3 way tie for third with Pandora Gilboa and Miller City and a Rocket win would put them in third all by themselves. Following a defensive first quarter the Rockets would control the second quarter scoring while the Pirates took the third quarter, overall it was the Rockets that ended up with the most points. The Rockets would get on the scoreboard first with a basket, which was followed up by a Konnor Knipp Williams basket, 2 all. The teams exchanged basket with Knipp Williams scoring for the Pirates, 4 all. The Rockets put in the last basket of the low scoring first, Rockets 6-4 after 1.
The Rockets would open up the second quarter by hitting a 3 to take a 5 point lead 9-4. Knipp Williams would cut that lead to 3 by making a basket 9-6 Rockets. The Rockets would string together 2 more threes and a pair of baskets to take a 19-6 lead. Knipp Williams would stop the run with a basket giving him 8, Rockets 19-8. In the last 20 seconds of the half a lot happened as the ball was stolen 3 times with the Pirates ending up with it and they missed a shot in the waning seconds, Carson Etter grabbed the rebound and put in the basket as the buzzer sounded. Rockets 19-10 at half.
The third quarter would have Senior Knipp William put in the first 3 baskets of the quarter to put the Pirates within 3 Rockets 19-16. The Pirates had 2 great looking shots to tie the game but they did not fall and the Rockets would stop Knipp Williams run with a basket Rockets 21-16. Another Knipp Williams basket would put the Pirates back with 3 Rockets 21-18. The Rockets would put in 2 baskets to push the lead back to 7 25-18. Knipp Williams would finish up the scoring for the third with a free throw and a basket. Rockets 25-21 after 3. Knipp Williams put in 11 points in the third to the Rockets 6.
Knipp Williams would score the first basket of the fourth quarter to put the Pirates to within 2 25-23 but it would be all Rockets to finish out the scoring as they would put in 7 of the last 10 points of the game with Mason Rayle hitting a 3 for the Pirates. Rockets 34-26 final.
Senior Konnor Knipp Williams finished his PCL basketball career with 21 points, Mason Rayle scored 3, Carson Etter 2. The Pirates made one 3 pointer (Rayle) while the Rockets put in 4. The Pirates were 1-2 from the line while the Rockets were 2-3.
Continental falls to 9-12 (3-4 PCL) and will hosted McComb on Friday. Pandora Gilboa improves to 18-4 (5-2 PCL). Kalida was undefeated in league play and takes home the championship.
Konnor Knipp Williams ended up with 81% of the Pirates points.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
