Deerfield-Windsor splits with Westfield

ALBANY —The Deerfield-Windsor Knights were able to get an emphatic 64-41 home win over Westfield Saturday evening, avenging a lost to them from earlier this season.

The game started off with an 8-0 run by the Knights. They didn’t allow a Westfield field goal until the 1:11 mark after building a 13-3 lead thanks to 6 of 6 shooting from the free throw line. Head coach Gordy Gruhl said his team’s defense set the tone.

“As usual, with any game you do well, I think your defense sets the tone for the ball game,” he said. “Tonight, we were very good from start to finish. Our 1-3-1 trap really bothered them and just set the tone.”

Ethan Merritt knocked down a three in the second quarter to put the Knights up 29-8 with 2:08 remaining in the half. He later caught an outlet and converted the layup as time wound down in the period. Deerfield went into the halftime break with a commanding 31-12 lead.

Howell Logan started the third quarter off with a basket off a steal and the Knights continued to show they could get it done in various ways. Daniel Ramsey provided an interior presence throughout, finishing with 14 points, while Logan, Merritt and Hill Houston combined for four 3-pointers. Both Logan and Merritt finished with 12 points in the contest. Gruhl said the solid execution all started with good ball rotation.

“I thought we did a good job moving the basketball tonight,” he said. “We got a good balance inside and outside. Ramsey did a good job and I thought Howell Logan did a great job for us tonight and of course Ethan Merritt shot the ball well like he always does.”

Gruhl also mentioned the improvement he saw in his team when compared to the first meeting between the two.

“We played them early in the year when they beat us and they pounded us on the boards and I thought we did a great job of rebounding the basketball,” he said.

The Knights are currently tied for second place in their region with a 2-1 record. They remain at home to take on Valwood Tuesday night in a key region game. The Valiants are undefeated in region play. Gruhl said if they want to make any type of push in the standings, they must start by taking care of business at home.

Westfield girls 50, Deerfield-Windsor 48

The Deerfield-Windsor girls lost a nail-biter to Westfield.

Deerfield held a five-point lead throughout the fourth quarter until around the two minute mark when Westfield got a steal and layup to cut it to two. They tied it at 48 with a runner on the following play with 1:25 left in the game.

The Lady Knights couldn’t convert free throws down the stretch and Westfield got the rebound, charged down the court, put up a shot and missed. But Mary Margaret Gilbert was right there for the putback to give Westfield the 50-48 lead with 2.5 seconds left in the game.

Deerfield was able to inbound the ball and got a clean look on a deep 3-point attempt, but it was just off the mark.

The first half featured a handful of lead changes, but it was Westfield who pulled ahead late and went into the halftime break with a 28-22 lead.

The Lady Knights went on a 6-0 lead to start the second half, tying the game at 28 all on a three by Emily Foy with 6:47 left in the quarter.

The Lady Knights led by as many as six heading into the fourth where Westfield was able to make a late game surge for the win.

Rachel Bonner finished with 19 points to lead the Lady Knights.