SPORTS

Quarterfinal quandy for Knights

PJP II boys basketball team ends season with quarterfinal loss at Ensworth

Ryan Jent
For the Hendersonville Star News

NASHVILLE In its previous meetings against Ensworth this season, the Pope John Paul II boys basketball team had little trouble scoring against the Tigers.

In their biggest contest of the season, the Knights had nothing but trouble scoring against the Tigers.

PJP II traveled to Ensworth for a Division II-Class AA state quarterfinal contest and struggled against the Tigers’ defensive pressure in a 63-43 loss on Saturday evening.

The Knights were limited to 18 first-half points.

Pope John Paul II High junior guard Grayson Lang scored two points in the Knights' 63-43 loss at Ensworth on Saturday evening.

Ensworth senior forward Desmond Cambridge led all scorers with 21 points, including eight during a second-quarter stretch that saw the Tigers take control of the contest.

PJP II, the No. 4 seed in the Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region, was vying for its first trip to final four.

The Tigers, seeded second in the Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region, advanced to face Christian Brothers in Friday afternoon’s state semifinal contest. Christian Brothers claimed a 59-37 win over Baylor on Saturday.

Ensworth won the state title in 2009 and also from 2011-14.

Saturday evening’s game at Enworth was delayed 45 minute due to a scheduling error that caused the officials to be late.

“I don’t know if that hurt us tonight, but it definitely didn’t help us,” PJP II head coach Kip Brown said. “One thing for sure though is that Ensworth had a lot to do with our problems. Their guys are not only quick but have a lot of length.”

Ensworth (23-5) limited the Knights to 35-percent shooting from the field.

A sluggish start plagued PJP II (21-9), but the Knights seemed to be getting on track when a basket from senior forward Ryan Hatten followed by a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Mitchell Sorenson cut the Ensworth lead to 15-13 with 5:53 remaining before halftime.

However, Cambridge took control for Ensworth as he reeled off seven consecutive points to give the Tigers a 22-13 lead with 2:53 remaining.

“We didn’t make run after that run, and we had a lot of shots 10 feet and in that we didn’t hit on,” Brown said. “He (Cambridge) is a good player, and they’ve got a lot of good players, with a couple of Division I-level guards.”

A basket by Hatten tied the game up at six with 1:36 left in the first quarter, but as was the theme, every time the Knights made a run, Ensworth countered.

Tiger sophomore forward Tanner Antonutti answered with an offensive rebound and putback, followed up by consecutive PJP II turnovers that led to a layin by junior guard Imani Starling and 3-pointer from senior guard Jordan Bone.

The Knights managed to stay within striking distance when Sorenson connected on his second 3-pointer of the night to cut the Ensworth lead to 36-25 midway through the third period, but Cambridge scored five points during a 7-0 run that stretched the margin to 18 points.

PJP II captured a 72-62 win at Ensworth on Jan. 21 and suffered an 85-72 loss to the visiting Tigers on Feb. 12.

“We scored 72 in both our meetings this season, but we couldn’t get anything going tonight,” Brown said. “They definitely had something to do with it.

“This really wasn’t a good time for us to play probably our worst game of the year, but give Ensworth a lot of credit.”

PJP II graduates three seniors – Hatten, Nick Nixon and Trent Griffin.

“Ryan has been a great competitor, and he will be playing college baseball, along with Nixon … who just signed with (Alabama’s) Samford (University football program),” Brown said. “Neither of them had to play basketball this year, but they did.

“Trent has been a great kid for the program and has a great attitude, and we’ll miss all of them.”

PJP II (43) – Ryan Hatten 9, Devan Cambridge 7, Jayson Brown 6, Jalon Cambridge 6, Mitchell Sorenson 6, Matt Galvin 4, Jake Rucker 3, Grayson Lang 2.

ENSWORTH (63) – Desmond Cambridge 21, Jordan Bone 13, Tanner Antonutti 8, Imani Starling 6, James Wiseman 6, Brett Barnett 3, Keynote Calloway 2, Warren Zager 2, Jaylan Clemmons 1, Jack Zager 1.

Half: 25-18, Ensworth. Three-point goals: PJP II 3 (Sorenson 2, Rucker 1), Ensworth 4 (Cambridge 2, Barnett 1, Bone 1). Records: PJP II 21-9, Ensworth 23-5.