A strong start to the season continued for the Bishop O’Connell Knights in recent days with more significant victories.
First, the boys high-school basketball team (12-2, 2-0) finished 3-0 to win the Traditional Division of the annual Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach. Next, host O’Connell defeated Gonzaga, 65-57, in a big Washington Catholic Athletic Conference showdown in Arlington.
Gonzaga entered the game the No. 1 ranked high-school team by The Washington Post. The victory extended O’Connell’s winning streak to seven games entering another WCAC contest Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Bishop Ireton in Alexandria.
Prior to the Beach Ball Classic, the Knights finished 3-1 in the competition after losing their first game of the annual Jerry Tarkanian Tournament in Las Vegas.
As a result of the win over Gonzaga, O’Connell earned a national ranking of 15th in the latest ESPN High School Basketball top 25 poll.
In the win over Gonzaga, senior forward Jadyn Harris led the Knights. He scored 27 points, had eight rebounds, made three three-pointers and was 5 of 5 from the foul line.
O’Connell trailed 14-12 at the end of the first quarter, then outscored Gonzaga, 21-11, in the second to move in front before a sold-out gym.
In the championship game of the Beach Ball Classic, O’Connell defeated previously undefeated Great Crossing of Kentucky, 77-74, in two overtimes.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Bryson Tucker led O’Connell with 27 points (five threes) and four rebounds; Wyatt Norton had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebound to go with three steals and two assists; all-tournament selection A.J. Swinton scored 10; Aiden Caulker had seven; Harris had six points, six rebounds and four assists; and Tim Walker scored four.
O’Connell’s other wins in the classic were over North Crowley of Texas, 58-52, and Myrtle Beach, 75-30.
The Knights outscored North Crowley, 23-8, in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory. Tucker scored 28; Harris had 14 with six boards; Swinton scored six with three blocks and five rebounds; Caulker had five points and six boards; and Norton had 12 rebounds.
Against Myrtle Beach, Tucker and Walker each scored 18, Swinton 17, Caulker had eight, Norton six and six rebounds and Shane Lincoln scored four.
A strong start to the season continued for the Bishop O’Connell Knights in recent days with more significant victories.
First, the boys high-school basketball team (12-2, 2-0) finished 3-0 to win the Traditional Division of the annual Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach. Next, host O’Connell defeated Gonzaga, 65-57, in a big Washington Catholic Athletic Conference showdown in Arlington.
Gonzaga entered the game the No. 1 ranked high-school team by The Washington Post. The victory extended O’Connell’s winning streak to seven games entering another WCAC contest Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Bishop Ireton in Alexandria.
Prior to the Beach Ball Classic, the Knights finished 3-1 in the competition after losing their first game of the annual Jerry Tarkanian Tournament in Las Vegas.
As a result of the win over Gonzaga, O’Connell earned a national ranking of 15th in the latest ESPN High School Basketball top 25 poll.
In the win over Gonzaga, senior forward Jadyn Harris led the Knights. He scored 27 points, had eight rebounds, made three three-pointers and was 5 of 5 from the foul line.
O’Connell trailed 14-12 at the end of the first quarter, then outscored Gonzaga, 21-11, in the second to move in front before a sold-out gym.
In the championship game of the Beach Ball Classic, O’Connell defeated previously undefeated Great Crossing of Kentucky, 77-74, in two overtimes.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Bryson Tucker led O’Connell with 27 points (five threes) and four rebounds; Wyatt Norton had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds to go with three steals and two assists; all-tournament selection A.J. Swinton scored 10; Aiden Caulker had seven; Harris had six points, six rebounds and four assists; and Tim Walker scored four.
O’Connell’s other wins in the classic were over North Crowley of Texas, 58-52, and Myrtle Beach, 75-30.
The Knights outscored North Crowley, 23-8, in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory. Tucker scored 28; Harris had 14 with six boards; Swinton scored six with three blocks and five rebounds; Caulker had five points and six boards; and Norton had 12 rebounds.
Against Myrtle Beach, Tucker and Walker each scored 18, Swinton 17, Caulker had eight, Norton six and six rebounds and Shane Lincoln scored four.
