FREDERICKTOWN – The last thing the Fredericktown boys basketball team sees walking out of the locker room is a sign that reads, “Defense wins championships.”
Apropos considering it was the Freddies defense that shut down visiting East Knox in the second half in a 48-43 Knox Morrow Athletic Conference win on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Fredericktown needed the effort to overcome a 16-point deficit in the first half and a 15-point deficit early in the second half.
There were 26 turnovers in the game; but they were forced, not given.
“That East Knox team is as disciplined a team as you will see,” Fredericktown coach Derek Dibling said. “They are well coached. They’re just really solid, disciplined, and they don’t take bad shots. They make you work. A lot of credit goes to them, but credit our guys for sticking with it and fighting tooth and nail to the end.”
Ty Hatfield filled the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead the Freddies (3-0, 2-0). He scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. Kaid Carpenter added 12 points and four rebounds.
But that Fredericktown defense was the star of the game, holding East Knox to just 14 points in the second half.
“We didn’t have the best help-side in the first half,” Hatfield said. “They would just drive and dump off to someone else open on the help. We just had to help and close out (faster).”
Weston Melick led the Bulldogs (0-2, 0-1) with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals; and Shane Knepp went for 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
East Knox was shut down for a couple of weeks because of COVID-19. The Bulldogs had two practices before opening the season with a 46-37 loss at Patriot Prep on Dec. 2.
“You play when you can play,” East Knox coach Ryan Powell said before the game against Fredericktown.
Normally upset after a loss, especially against a league rival, Powell couldn’t help but grin.
“I sugar-coated it with them all week,” he said. “We were just terrible last week. I was worried.”
Powell and the Bulldogs have high aspirations this season.
“Fredericktown is probably the best team in the league this year, right there with Centerburg,” he said. “I think we’re right there with them.”
The Freddies blew the doors open on both of their first two opponents, averaging more than 75 points with an average margin of victory of 27.5.
“To be honest, coming into this game, the way they were playing and the game we had — in the back of mind, I didn’t feel good,” Powell said. “In the first half, that’s what we’re capable of. To hold that team to 16 points in a half was impressive, defensively.
“Both teams played really well. We didn’t win the game, but we didn’t lose this game. They just played better in the second half and we played better in the first half. I think they made a couple more shots than we did, especially in the fourth quarter.”
Dibling was forced to watch on a stream from home in isolation because of contact tracing.
“I’m the weak link,” Dibling quipped after the game. “My assistants (Skyler Simpson and Jim Lester) did a great job. They’ve been with me for five years and it shows. They’re my biggest support. You’re only as strong as your weakest link and, fortunately, we have some pretty strong links here.”
