By Mike Myers, Sports Writer
ELNORA - In the strictest sense, Saturday's road win at North Knox was for the players on the current North Daviess boys basketball roster.
But in the broader view, the 53-34 victory was a win for every player who has worn the Orange and Black since coach Brent Dalrymple came to North Daviess 10 years ago.
With the easy win over the Warriors, North Daviess (12-5) guaranteed itself a winning season, the fifth consecutive winning campaign for the program, a first in school history.
A fifth straight winning season is an indication Dalrymple, who has a 127-103 record as North Daviess coach, including a mark of 83-31 and two sectional titles and a regional championship last season since the beginning of the 2005-06 campaign, has the Cougar program on the right track.
"I couldn't be more happy with what's going on. This is the first year we've really got to test what our program is. The last three or four years, we've had some really good players, period. We've had great players," said Dalrymple . "But we mentioned in the locker room, you lose two or three really good players, the next year you go the semistate, you lose four really good players off that team. And here we are again this year competing.
"I hope it's a tribute to our program, I know it's a tribute to our program and what we've been doing in the off-season with our seniors really stepping up," said Dalrymple. "It seems like each year we've had seniors step up and be leaders and contribute to what we're doing."
North Daviess started quickly against North Knox (5-14), running out to a 14-2 lead after one quarter, a margin which the Cougars extended to 15 points at 23-8 by halftime. Nick Crays scored seven straight points in the first period on the way to a game high 13 points. Kendall Wittmer also reached double figures with 11 points, while T.J. Miller and Stetson Townsend added nine points apiece. Next was Matt Miller with eight points, followed by Nelson Graber with a point and Scott McAtee with one point.
A quick start turned into a route for the Cougars, who were dialed in from the opening tip and never let North Knox have any hope of coming out on top.
"Focus and intensity were the two kids words for us tonight, and our kids jumped off right from the beginning and really came to play,” said Dalrymple.
North Daviess also claimed the JV contest 45-21. Lewis Nugent led ND with 12 points, followed by nine from Joey Riggins.
