MOUNT GILEAD – Lincoln Cunningham quickly snatched all the drama out of an upset bid by host Mount Gilead.
The senior scored the first seven points of a 13-0 start to help the Fredericktown boys basketball team cruise to a share of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title with a 74-50 victory on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
The 14 guys that make up the roster were all in grade school the last time the Freddies could call them themselves league champions. Cunningham wasn’t even thinking about being a basketball player.
“These (seniors) were in fourth grade,” Fredericktown coach Derek Dibling said. “Eight years seems likes a long time ago. When you think about ... these guys are seniors ready to go out into the world. Eight years ago, they were fourth graders running around doing who knows what.”
Seven of the eight seniors got a chance to put a stamp on the league title. The only one who didn’t play was Mason Finnell, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
“The camaraderie of the guys; they’re just so close,” Dibling said. “They’ve supported each other, they’ve trusted each other (and) they’d do anything for each other. So that part has been pretty seamless with those guys. It helps that they’ve played together for as long as they have. They’re best buddies on the court and they’re best buddies off the court.”
Cunningham finished with 24 points and four rebounds; and Caleb Sheriff added 13 points, five assists and three rebounds to lead Fredericktown.
“It’s a luxury to have a group of guys that can step up at any given time,” Dibling said. “It makes it tough for (opposing teams) to key on one guy.”
That the Freddies had 12 assists on their first 13 made field goals was symbolic of the team this season.
Thomas Caputo led the way with six assists and added four rebounds and three steals, and Ty Hatfield also facilitated with four assists and ended up with four thefts on the defensive end.
“We’re unselfish,” Cunningham said. “We like to move the ball and get each other looks and just move the ball.”
Sophomore Kaid Carpenter was also strong in the post. He scored six points in the first quarter during the Freddies’ 17-2 start. In all, he went for 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
Cunningham scored 12 points in the first quarter and framed the game with eight more in the fourth.
Trailing by as much as 27 early in the third quarter, MG made Fredericktown sweat a little. Jackson Huffer knocked down a pair of 3s in the third and scored 11 points in the frame as MG (7-15, 5-9) got as close as 42-27 at the 3:40 mark.
Huffer ended up with 23 points, 21 of which came in the second half. He knocked down four 3s and dished out a pair of assists. Matthew Bland had 10 points, five rebounds and five steals for MG; and Elijah Chafin chipped in seven points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Mount Gilead was without two of its starters in Paul Butterman (ankle) and Carter Kennon (knee).
But it was Fredericktown’s night.
Seniors Reese Cassetto had four points and four rebounds, Caleb Burns had five points and a pair of steals, and Austin Rock pulled down a pair of rebounds.
“What me and my team (have done) … it’s a dream come true,” Cunningham said.
