FREDERICKTOWN — Twas four days before Christmas, and all through the gym,
The Fredericktown faithful urged their team on to win.
Nick Cunningham scored 20, Terry Fearn 18 more,
As the fans cheered the 56-36 final score.
Both they and East Knox sat in the stands,
With visions of a 4-1 KMAC in their hands.
For three quarters, the Bulldogs were game.
But the first period just wasn’t the same.
The Freddies came out and hit more shots that night,
Even though the Dogs gave them a good fight.
But who should lead the Fredericktown charge?
Any of them could, but one immediately stood large.
For with a talented senior, so lively and quick,
Everyone knew it had to be Nick.
He shot not a 2, but went straight for the 3s,
Sinking four of them in the first period with ease.
Dishing him two of those shots was Clem,
Another Cunningham… and yes, there are more of them.
“We do rely on outside shooting,” said Derek Dibling
Of Nick and Clem – no, they’re not siblings.
“But we were too lopsided on our looks,” the coach added sans glee.
“We didn’t want to live and die by the 3.”
Four minutes in, the score 12-2,
Turned East Knox bright purple to saddened blue.
As for the fans who came dressed in Freddie red,
The scoreboard showed they had nothing to dread.
In the second half, they looked on to Fearn.
His game was solid; their respect he would earn.
Fearn scored 12 in the half, capping a double-double.
His 11 boards proved he had mastered his bubble.
“He did a great job,” Dibling spoke of his post cook.
“He gave us a lot of second-chance looks,”
East Knox responded, too little, too late,
Though Weston Melick delayed his team’s fate.
He scored 11 with nine rebounds to play the lead Dog
As through the solid Freddie defense he did slog.
Nathan Whitney scored nine points on the night
As the offense for the Bulldogs had become a fright.
Getting just three offensive rebounds was somewhat foul,
But East Knox’s 36-percent shooting really bugged coach Ryan Powell.
His statement made it as obvious as a pimple.
“They hit more shots,” Powell said. “Sometimes it’s that simple.”
The third quarter was sealed with Nick’s key assists.
A give-and-go to Clem’s brother Lincoln with a twist,
Then a pass to Fearn, who was fouled on the way,
Opened a 15-point lead with one quarter to play.
Lincoln Cunningham sank his team’s final shot,
Putting up 10 points and grabbing nine boards for the lot.
The Freddies can’t rest; more opponents beckon,
Though they’ll enjoy their KMAC standing in second.
Meantime, Temple Christian comes today with its rooters
To the home floor of the MVNU Cougars.
For the Bulldogs, they’ll take on Horizon Science
Next Thursday at Heath, their next show of defiance.
The gym soon stood empty. The battle’s been fought.
The buses pulled off. The cars left the lot.
But this writer heard the players ere they drove out of sight.
“Happy Christmas, hoops fans, and to all a good night!”
