Two More Victories
For the Royal Boys
By Dustin Parker

The Royals boys’ team hosted the always-tough Thetford Panthers last Friday. It was the first meeting between the two teams since last year’s Division III state championship game with the Royals winning, 41-38. The game was physical and the score was changing like the temperature in the winter.

Joey Kinnarney got the Royals on the board first with a drive to the hoop. Cal Wilmot hit a foul shot and Tyrell Manning had a big quarter with two three's. Dustin Parker added a jump shot from the corner, and after one, the Royals were ahead, 12-11.

In the second, captain Miles Ellis took over by scoring seven points. Jake Timian got on the board with a foul shot, and Kinnarney added some needed points as well. However, by the half, the Royals had lost their lead and were trailing, 28-24.

The Royals only scored eight points in the fourth quarter. Ellis, Timian and Cal Wilmot accounted for Soro’s offense. After three quarters, the Royals were still trailing, 36-32.

Kinnarney had a good offensive fourth quarter with six points. Tyrell Manning hit a jump shot from the corner and finished with eight points. Kinnarney and Ellis led the Royals with 12 points each. Nick Hoffman led all scorers with 17 for Thetford.

Win vs. Northfield

On Monday the Royals hosted Northfield after a very close game with the Marauders earlier in the season.

The first quarter was not a good offensive one for the Royals. The only points in the first came from Ellis on a back door drive to the hole. After the first quarter, the Royals had dug themselves a 10-2 deficit.

The Royals played much better in the second with 12 points. Two more from Ellis, Timian had five, Manning hit a three from the corner, and Ellis and Colin Judge each had two points. At the half, the Royals were still down, 25-14.

The Royals stepped up the defense in the third plus scored 14 points. Six of those came from Wilmot. The Royals had crept back into the game and were trailing by only one point, 29-28.

In the fourth, the scoring was scattered: five points from Timian, two each from Ellis, Kinnarney, and James Doyle.

Cody Chamberlin led the Marauders with 11 points.