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After having a few days of rest, the Westchester Knicks (20-16) returned to action on Friday night, as they would play two games between Friday and Sunday. The W-Knicks were victorious after defeating the Grand Rapids Drive (14-18), 110-103, before returning home and losing to the Greensboro Swarm (16-16), 98-96. This past weekend for the W-Knicks marked another time which their roster experienced additional changes and new faces had to step up once again.
In case you didn’t know, Isaiah Hicks, Kadeem Allen, and John Jenkins, three players who’ve been the focal point of offense for the W-Knicks this season, were recently called up to the NBA. Hicks and Allen are with the New York Knicks via their Two-Way contracts and Jenkins signed a 10-Day contract with the Washington Wizards, on January 31st.
And because of the trio’s absence, the W-Knicks played each of their last two games with only eight players available. But as any coach will tell you, you have to “make the most with what you have.” Head coach Mike Miller relied heavily on the back-court of Billy Garrett and Devon Baulkman, and it paid off in a big way. Garrett averaged 27, 7, and 6 over the weekend, and Baulkman produced a solid stat-line of 15, 7, and 2.
Throughout each match-up against the Drive and Swarm, the W-Knicks found what worked for them on either side of the floor. On offense, besides the success between Garrett and Baulkman, the team received plenty of scoring help from the likes of Jameel Warney and Zak Irvin, while also shooting a respectable 45%-30%-78% from the field. Yet, when it came to their defense? Top-notch effort.
Even with their opposition producing four combined players, who scored at least 20 points, the W-Knicks forced the Drive and Swarm to shoot 41%-21%-80% from the field and endure various stretches of ineffective offense. This was a big deal, because the W-Knicks actually lost the turnover battle after those two games, 34-22, which included 20 of them in Sunday’s loss to the Swarm.
Up next for the Westchester Knicks is a Friday night home game against the Canton Charge at the Westchester County Center.