Knights dethrone Vikings
Published 2:47 pm Wednesday, February 6, 2013
![RS BK Jalyn Ply web](http://www.wdnweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/02/RS-BK-Jalyn-Ply-web.jpg)
Plymouth’s Tradesia Simpson (32) defends Riverside’s Jalyn Brown during the Knights 51-44 victory Tuesday at Riverside High School. Brown would finish the game with 16 points. (WDN Photo/Brian Haines)
Riverside coach Kirby Maness calls point guard Jalyn Brown the motor that drives the car and on Tuesday Brown put the pedal to the mettle scoring a game-high 16 points to steer the Knights past Plymouth 51-44.
The win avenged an early season loss and pushed the two teams into a tie atop the Four Rivers Conference standings with matching 9-1 records.
“It was a bit of a redemption game,” Maness said. “The first time we played them was at their place and we had our worst shooting night of the year.
“Plymouth’s got a really good team and I thought tonight we did a better job of controlling the ball than the first time we played them and we cut back on turnovers.”
The Knights came out energized as their feisty defense created some easy baskets and a 5-0 lead. However, Plymouth coach Lamont Gilliam settled down his players and kept the game from getting away from the Vikings.
However, he could not help them out at the free throw line and after the game Gilliam said that his team’s inconsistent shooting from the stripe was costly.
“Missed free throws, I don’t know how many we had but it killed us,” Gilliam said.
By halftime Plymouth had caught up to the Knights, outscoring them 12-6 in the second to tie the game up at 18.
Once the break was over Brown kicked into gear. The junior point guard racked up 14 of her 16 points over the final two quarters to lead the Knights past their rival.
“Jalyn’s the motor that runs this car,” Maness said. “She’s going to come out and push the tempo and get everybody involved and I thought she was real big for us tonight.”
Riverside had a balanced attack as D’asya Wilson poured in 14 points and Mariah Gaddy added 10.
Plymouth, who took a brief 24-22 lead in the third, played catch up for a majority of the game and was led by Desire Chesson’s 13 points and a 10-point effort from Jaymasia Dixon.
Plymouth 6 12 10 16 — 44
Riverside 12 6 14 19 — 51
Vikings (44)
Desire Chesson 13, Jaymasia Dixon 10, Gibson 6, Ebony Barrow 10, Davis 4.
Knights (51)
D’Asya Wilson 14, Burnett 2, Brown 16, Mariah Gaddy 10, Bland 3, Jalyn Brown 16, Cooper 2, Moore 3.
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