Knights and Blackcats pull off opening night wins

By AARON MURRAY\Daily Journal Sports Writer

ARNOLD - Earlier in the year Farmington had hosted the opening game of the football season between the Knights and the Fox Warriors, but for basketball on Tuesday night, it was Fox hosting the opening night. The result of the game would be the same with Farmington ending up with the 65-34 win.

Farmington was able to make a statement in the first quarter as they went up by seven. In the second they were able to increase their lead by eight and go into the locker rooms with the score at 34-19.

The Knights took control of the game in the third quarter with a 23-7 runaway.

Collin Berry would lead the Knights with 17 points. Jesse Beard also hit double-digits with 11 points. Deon Glaspy added eight, Travis Massie scored seven, Parks Peterson and Isaac Armstrong six, Patrick Wulfers four, and Justin Arnold and Cragon McBride scored three points each.

Peterson pulled down six rebounds to lead the Knights, and McBride had five. Glaspy aided the Knights defensively with five steals.

Fredericktown 58, Herculaneum 41

HERCULANEUM - The Blackcat showdown between Fredericktown and Herculaneum ended with Fredericktown winning 58-41 on Tuesday night. Both teams have the same mascot.

Fredericktown and Herculaneum played close in the first half with Fredericktown holding a four-point edge at the half. The game's tempo did not increase in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter Fredericktown put 19 points on the scoreboard against Herculaneum's eight.

Jerod Williams led Fredericktown in scoring with 20 points. Dustin Bess followed with 13 points including three three-pointers. Eli Skaggs would also reach double digits with 10. Ryan Thompson would chip in six more points, Jake Clauser and Levi Lawson both had four, and Joe Johnson made one free throw.

Viburnum 80, Valley 75

CALEDONIA - The Valley Vikings were hoping to win their home opener following the Lady Vikings loss at home the night before. The Vikings gave a valiant effort for a tie in regulation, but in overtime the Viburnum Blue Jays scored 13 points to best the Vikings 80-75.

Valley held a one point lead going into the half, but going into the fourth quarter Valley was down by two points. With seconds left on the clock and the score 67-66, the Vikings had the chance to take a two-point lead with a free throw. The shot did not drop through, and the Blue Jays rebounded and pushed the ball up court.

Viburnum missed the lay-up for the win, but was fouled in the process for one more chance at the victory, but they only made one of the free-throws to tie the game instead.

In overtime the Blue Jays outscored the Vikings by five for the victory.

Valley's scoring leaders included John Tedder with 24 points and Aaron Dickey with 22. Tony Radford would also have nine points, and Jaycee Lawson would add another eight.

Dickey would have the only double-double for the Vikings with 13 rebounds. Other rebounds leaders included Radford with seven and Tedder with six.

Cuba 71, Kingston 20

CADET - The Kingston Cougars were unable to win the first game of the season as the Cuba Wildcats toppled the Cougars 71-20.

The Cougars kept close with the Wildcats in the first quarter, but in the second quarter Cuba would break loose and score 36 points for a 33 point half-time lead. In the second half the Cougars were only able to score eight more points.

Keith Cantrell led the Cougars with seven points, and Dan Hahn led with seven rebounds.