Wrapping up some important games before the holiday break, the Tyler Consolidated boys basketball team came close, but were unable to secure a win in the books last week.

The Silver played host to the Williamstown Yellow Jackets on Dec. 15 and gave their best effort of the year, taking the game into overtime. Unfortunately, they took the loss, 66-50, but not due to the lack of effort on the basketball court.

At the end of the first quarter the score stood at 14-16 with the Knights trailing. Some well placed shots by the home team put Consolidated within a point of Williamstown at the half, 27-6. By the end of regulation play, both teams had put on quite a defensive show and had stalemated at 55 all. In the overtime period though, the Jackets managed to outscore the home team, 11-5 to take the win.

Senior Alex Jones had an excellent game for the Knights, adding 18 points to the overall total. Cory Lowe scored 12 points; Zach Minger, 11; Aaron Estep, 10; Dustin Snider, three; Boone Kehrer, three and Zach Knowlton, three. Minger pulled down eight rebounds while Estep had three.

The junior varsity Knights were more fortunate in their game, getting the win, 52-40. Zach Knowlton led the Knight scorers with an impressive 21 points, followed by Evan Cline with 14; Aaron Fuller, five; Skylar Kinnard, Keher , three each; Jordan Smith, two; and B.J. Eastham and Otto Sperling scored one point each.

On Dec. 17 at Parkersburg Catholic the Silver fell to the Crusaders, 63-47.

The Knights were able to stay with the crusaders in the first several minutes of the game, only trailing by 27-20 at the half.

The fourth though told the story of the contest as Parkersburg outscored Consolidated 21-14 to take the win.

Minger led all Knight scorers in the game with 15 and pulled down four rebounds. Snider scored 13 points; Jones totaled nine points and four rebounds; Estep had seven points and four rebounds; Lowe scored two and had four boards and Cline added a point to the cause.

The JV Knights also took the loss to their Crusader opponents, 52-49. Top scorers for the Knights were: Knowlton, 11; Fuller, 11; Jordan Smith, six; Eastham, six; Kehrer, six; Kinnard, five; and Cline, four.

Finishing their week north of Tyler County, Tyler Consolidated traveled to Oak Glen on Dec. 18 to take on the Golden Bears, but came back home with the loss, 71-49.

Oak Glen jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter, leading the silver Knights, 14-7 at the end of the first period of play. In the second quarter, it was the Knights turn to shine as they added 17 points to their side of the scoreboard while holding the Bears to 12 to put the score at 26-24 with the Golden Bears in the lead.

A second half power play had Oak Glen on their game though as they quickly surpassed the Knights in points to get the lopsided 71-49 win.

Scoring: Lowe led Consolidated in scoring with 17 points. Minger and Snider each added seven points to the tally; Estep scored six; Jones and Knowlton added five points apiece; and Kehrer scored two in the loss.

The JV game with Oak Glen was a different story as the Silver held out for the 46-44 win. Jordan Smith led the young Knights with points as he scored 14 to lead the field. Cline scored nine; Kehrer had seven; Fuller, six; Eastham, three; Kinnard, two; Knowlton, two; Jeremy Smith, two; and Otto Sperling, one.

The Silver Knights will travel to St. Marys tonight to take on the Blue Devils but will see lots of action once the holidays are over. On Dec. 29 the team will play at Magnolia; on Jan. 2 they will host Ravenswood and on Jan. 4 the Doddridge County Bulldogs will play at Tyler Consolidated.