Knights fall in home finale to Cambridge
Cambridge Springs clinched the Region 3 title outright with a 55-35 win at Eisenhower Friday.
The Blue Devils led wire-to-wire and never by less than five points after the first two minutes of the game. The win kept Cambridge two games in front of Youngsville with just one region game left to clinch the title.
Cambridge Springs (17-3 overall, 11-0 Region 3) opened the game with a 5-0 run. Jared Martone knocked down a 3-pointer with just over six minutes to go in the first to make it 5-3.
That was as close as the Knights (6-13, 3-8) would get the rest of the way.
The Blue Devils methodically added to their lead as the game wore on. Cambridge led by 10 after the first quarter and took a 33-19 lead into the locker room at halftime.
“I was happy with the way we played,” Eisenhower coach Wayne Lundmark said. “We fought and worked hard. We didn’t let them just run away with it.”
Cambridge Springs only scored once every two minutes in the third quarter. Eisenhower was unable to cut into the lead as the Knights went on a 6:55 scoreless draught in the frame. Luke Smelko hit a field goal with 7:16 to go and Eisenhower didn’t score again until Zane Alexander put in a layup with 21 seconds left.
The Knights were able to get some offense going in the fourth quarter. Drew Williams knocked down a pair of 3-pointers on consecutive possessions late in the frame to trim the deficit.
“We didn’t quit,” Lundmark said. “We kept scoring right til the end.”
Matt Andrews had a game-high 19 points for the Blue Devils. Trent Wheeler and Lance Welker added eight each.
Williams led the way for Eisenhower with 13 points. Alexander had seven and Smelko five.
The Knights close out their season Tuesday when they travel to Youngsville.
Cambridge won the junior varsity contest, 47-20.
Nate Held had 16 points and Ethan Counasse 11 in the win.
Jake Venman had 11 points for Eisenhower.
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Cambridge Springs (55)
Henderson 1-0-0-3, Andrews 7-1-2-19, Bidwell 1-0-0-2, Welker 3-0-0-8, Held 1-0-0-2, Wheeler 4-0-0-8, Leandro 0-2-2-2, Shinsky 3-1-2-7, Kingsley 1-2-2-4, Spaid 0-0-0-0, Total 21-6-8-55
Eisenhower (35)
Williams 4-1-2-13, Darling 1-2-4-5, Alexander 2-3-4-7, Smelko 2-0-0-5, Hunt 0-2-2-2, Martone 1-0-0-3, Eckstrom 0-0-0-0, Total 10-8-12-35
By Quarters
Cambridge Springs 18 15 11 11 – 55
Eisenhower 8 11 4 12 – 35
3-point FGs: Cambridge Springs (7)-Andrews 4, Welker 2, Henderson. Eisenhower (7)-Williams 4, Darling, Smelko, Martone.