Dante lights "Inferno" against visiting Royal Knights

SPRING HILL - It started out slowly for both teams, but halftime adjustments and the fire of Springstead's Dante Valentine changed the course of the game in an easy 49-26 victory over the River Ridge varsity basketball team Thursday night.

"We were able to adapt," commented first-year Eagle Head Coach Patrick Kelly, who has thus far led his team to a 12-1 record overall, and an undefeated 9-0 in 4A-8 play.

"Last week we played to an 89-83 victory," Kelly said. "This team (River Ridge) is very deliberate. To their credit a very disciplined team, well coached, making extra passes. And they played well."

River Ridge entered the game at 7-8 overall and 0-5 in 5A-7 action, including a loss to the Central Bears 50-40, early in December.

"What we work on is our half court defense," Kelly went on to say of his Eagles. "But we got together at halftime and discussed the situation. So we pressed the daylights out of them."

Going into the third quarter, Springstead was up by two, 16-14. Valentine had six points, and Ben Noury matched him with three field goals.

Kelly's plan

Kelly's plan worked for the second half. The Knights committed 17 turnovers in the second half including 10 team fouls, and were held to just 12 points.

Springstead's Valentine finished with a game high 18 points, but added seven rebounds, two assists, a block and six steals, many of them turning into coast-to-coast baskets.

Dominic Roberson also had four steals. Nehemiah Mason was second in scoring with 16 points going 10-of-13 from the free throw line.

Lance Babcock led the Knights in scoring with 12 points. Nelson Saitch, River Ridge's only real front court presence, committed two early fouls and sat for most of the first half.

"We got them throwing the ball around and started to deflect balls," Kelly said. "That pretty much took the game away. Against that team, to win by 23 points, I give our kids credit. But our kids made plays in the second half, and then offensively we were a little more patient. We worked together, made the extra pass, and our half court offense was better in the second half. All of our kids made steals in the second half. That's pretty good defense."