On Valentine’s Day NECC Knights had a date with Bristol Community College it was a 6 p.m. tip off at the Sports and Fitness Center.
Knights won 75 to 64 to pick their 12 straight wins and secure at least one first home games, this was a make up game from Jan. 29 that it was rescheduled due to the blizzard.
Every game during the season it is know a test for the Knight as teams is know putting the best players in the court against Knight’s to try to break the 11 game winning streak that the Knights is currently in.
Stratton said before the game that he was anticipating Bristol to be a tough competitor as they fight for a seed in the Region 21 Tournament.
“…Bristol is coming in tonight with only four loses, if we commit stupid fouls we going to be in a lot of trouble because Bristol shoots as a team 78% from 3 point line so we can be for a long game tonight and I hope the kids come out and ready to play, he said.
Knights won the tip off against Bristol. Cunningham shots the first bucket in the game the Knights started off aggressive they begin the game with a 7-0 run in a span of 4 minutes and 13 seconds. During that run Philip Cunningham of Haverhill and Cristian Kinsley of Lawrence each scored on a 2 pointer and Daniel Almarante of Lawrence scored on a 3 pointer.
The first foul for the Knights was on Almarante, which made Nate Gewandter a forward for Bristol Community College to make both of his free throw shots.
The Knights collapsed for a few minutes after starting the game strong Bristol was on a 12-4 run against the Knights.
Knights was up 16 to 12 with 10:32 left in the first period. During the first period Cunningham had a turnover and Jasjit Banwait of Malton, Onterio travel.
Almarante steal the ball pass it to Cunningham, got fouled went to the free throw line and made two shots in. Matt D’Amato of Peabody made a wide open 3 pointer.
Bristol did not went into the locker room at the half. Almarante had 9 points for the Knights in the first half for Bristol Hazard Jr. also had 9.
Knights were up 33-30 at the half the Knights had six fouls while Bristol had seven.
The second period started a foul on Mehmet Asik of Ankara Turkey. Almarante scored a two pointer Metin was in the free throw line and made both shots in. The game was tied at 51 with 9:44 remaining when Tyler Nunnery of Bristol got 5 fouls during the game and he was fall out and could not return to the game.
Cristian Kinsely from Lawrence called a timeout on 3:23 left in the second period with the Knights up by 5 it was 66 to 61 at that point.
Two players from Bristol got fouled out and for the Knights Cunningham also recorded his first career fall out.
The Knights and Bristol both had 10 foul in the second half.
