The Clear Falls Knights amazing underdog tournament run finally came to an end for them after falling to Beaumont United, but they did not go down easy, considering it was only a five point win. The game expected to be a pretty easy win for Beaumont turned into a battle for the books.
To start off the game, Beaumont makes a 6-0 run, but the Knights respond and put their first points up too. Beaumont goes on to show the Knights why they’re here, making their lead 19-4, The Knights respond with a layup, but then, right before the end of the quarter, #12 Orlando Horton Jr. shoots a deep 3 to end the quarter and banks it in, making the score 19-9.

To start the second quarter, Beaumont fouls, taking the Knights to the free throw line, where they miss one and make the second. The Knights get a defensive stop, then make another layup, but, as Beaumont goes to inbound the ball, the Knights turn around and intercept the inbounded pass, getting a wide open look for three and making the score 19-15

The Knights have their foot on the pedal as they keep scoring and getting stops, until Beaumont answers back with two easy layups. With the score being 17-23, the Knights inbound the ball, then try to pass down court, but it gets stolen. Beaumont then takes it down for a wide open layup. To end the half, the Knights dribble down the court and get a open look from #2 Corey Kelly, who banks it off the glass and makes the end of half score be 30-27, Beaumont up by three.

Going into the third quarter, Beaumont scores first with a three-pointer and then a hard mid-range floater. Beaumont then puts up more points with a put-back rebound. But the Knights want this game; they respond with four points, making the score 31-36. The Knights hit a spin-move step-back three, which puts them at 36 points, but to end the third quarter, Beaumont hits a midrange pull up.

Going into the fourth quarter, the score is close. The Knights go on a huge run of 8-0 making the score 44-43; this is the closest the score has been all day and is also the first lead of the game for the Knights. Beaumont answers back with a layup of their own, going up one. The Knights and Beaumont traded layups and 2’s, with the end of those layups making the score 48-51. The Knights get a steal and go up for a layup, but they miss, and Beaumont gets the rebound. They fouled, scoring the last points of the game with two made free throws. The end score being 53-48
After this devastating loss, Corey Kelly says, “Just a few plays down the stretch, we could have been headed to the state championship tournament,”
This thriller game ended in a high fashion way that couldn’t have been better and for sure is one for the record books.