BY ADAM COULTER
Salina Post Contributor
The Chapman Irish and Sacred Heart Knights faced off Tuesday in the opening games of the Irish Classic tournament with the Knights coming out on top in both games.
The girls began the night and both teams struggled initially with the game scoreless for the opening three minutes. Then, both teams heated up and traded baskets for a 9-9 tie. The Lady Knights led 13-11 after the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Chapman scored the lone two-point basket as both teams once again struggled from the field. The teams combined for eight points from the free-throw line as Sacred Heart took a 24-16 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The Lady Knights extended their lead to 36-23 after three quarters and led by as many as 17 points in the latter stage of the game. However, the Lady Irish had one last run in them. Chapman cut the deficit down to as few as seven, but Sacred Heart would hang on for a 43-31 win.
Sacred Heart improves its record to 1-1. Chapman is 0-1.
In the boy's game, neither team was shy about getting up and down the floor in a fast-paced opening quarter. The teams traded the lead back-and-forth and the Knights found themselves up 20-15.
The scoring slowed in the second quarter, but the pace of the game did not. Chapman came back to reclaim the lead and had a 30-27 advantage at halftime.
The new free-throw rules for this season helped the Knights in a huge third quarter. The Irish were called for five personal fouls just three minutes into the period. Sacred Heart shot two free throws from that point as they went back on top with a 48-37 score heading into the fourth quarter.
Chapman showed great tenacity in attempting to come back once more, but, in the end, Sacred Heart held on for a 65-51 win.
Sacred Heart is now 2-0 while Chapman is 0-1. The Irish Classic continues on Friday afternoon with Sacred Heart taking on Rossville. The girl's tipoff is slated for 3 pm with the boy's game to follow at 4:30.
Chapman will then host Bishop Ward with a 6 pm girls tipoff and the boys finishing the day at 7:30.
All four games can be seen and heard at salinapost.com.