On Dec 4. NECC Knights got blown out 94 to 51 against the red-hot Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) at noon.

The Knights have been struggling lately coming into today game Knights have lost three in a row meanwhile CCRI have a six game winning streak coming into the game and their only loss there only lost was to begin the 2021-2022 campaign.  

The Knights are in a middle of a 4-game division conference stretch they lost to a non-conference division game against Great Bay Community College and a conference division a nail biter game to Quincy College 75 to 71 in the road.  

Before the game we find out that Knights won’t have Christian Kinsley of Lawrence until at least January. This team is battling with injuries all season long. Cameron Stratton of Haverhill has missed two games and it was out of today contest against CCRI. 

In the first period the Knights began the game strong with an 8-0 run. Matt D’Amato of Peabody shot a 3-pointer followed by Mehmet Asik of Ankira, Turkey two 2 pointers and Philip Cunningham of Haverhill steal the ball then went to the free throw and made one of two shots. 

Ashton Ventola of Danville N.H. who played 16 minutes and 8 points during the game “I was just trying to give my team a spark you know we got a good start you know like you said 8-0 run we got up pretty well and they start to fight back and coach puts me in so you know I am just trying to be aggressive you know not be afraid to shot and just keep attacking the whole work my shot into it… I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my team,” said Ventola.

 Then the Knights collapsed after having a commanding  8-0 run they were trailing 18 to 13 coach Stratton told me in the post-game interview “I think this team doesn’t know how to overcome adversity  right now I think we‘re trying to struggle,  find ourself and I think that was the case when a team make a run on us we attempt to hold our heads instead of fighting through it.  I think we need to find some kind of leadership for someone…,” said Stratton

The Knights need someone to step up and fight. They need to keep their head up in the game is basketball and make a run and not gave up during the game anything can happen. Is not over until the buzzer hit at the end of the second period anything can happen.

The Knights after they gave up the lead they were playing sloppy and they weren’t playing smart basketball Stratton told me “Turnovers are atrocious but you know Jose I am going to be honest with you that has been an illing  problem for us through the first eleven games so far I don’t think you can find one game that we haven’t turnover the basketball more than 15 times…” Stratton said. That is the big key and why this team is under .500 other than injuries right now they need to improve in every aspect as they can to be above .500 and finish the season strong.

 They were down 44-29 at the half. 

Coach Stratton still feel a chance they can win the game against a very good CCRI game “100 percent I felt we had a chance to win the game we came back from 16 down the other night against Quincy I told them at half time were beating our self… if we don’t turn the basketball over there and were play discipline basketball that game is a lot different…” said Stratton.  

The first eight minutes of the second period CCRI was on a 23-7 run. The Knights they were struggling they couldn’t make the ball inside the bucket, and it was going to be extremely difficult to win as they were down 67-37 with 12 minutes left in the quarter. 

“We struggle to score and is sad to said like coach Canery and coach Tardif we need kids to work on their  fundamentals we don’t have kids that work on their there skill set they think they are better than what they are and if they watch this film tonight playing against a team like this today you get exposed and if you don’t have the skills and willing to work at your skills to get better stuff like this is going to happen…” Stratton said.  

During the second period the Knights lost another player due to injury Jason Parello of Lawrence he has been fighting a heel issue lately and during the game against CCRI he landed knee first on the ground he was taken out of the game with some help he couldn’t walk under at his own power. 

 The Knights know have a 4-game losing streak. They will face Massasoit Community College looking to end their four game losing skid on Thursday Dec. 9 game time is scheduled at 6 p.m. at Sports and Fitness Center at Haverhill Campus.