(GILBERT, Ariz.) The Knights of old were back on the grind Friday, out-hustling and eventually defeating Northwest Christian 57-33 in regional boy's hoops action. Freshman Colin Burke served as an igniter in the contest, lighting up the Crusaders with his fiery defense, and game-high 14 points. 

Burke has been a big contributor this season for Gilbert Christian, averaging 7.2 points and 1.8 steals in his first varsity campaign. 

"It was good to see the guys come out fast and fly around last night," Head Coach Jason Pasquariello said. "Our defense was smothering and we were really trying to sprint out in transition and kick the ball ahead. This makes two games in a row where Colin has come up huge for us. Overall, I thought we executed our game plan very well. Holding them to 11 points in the first half was huge for our defense. I really liked our communication and finishing possessions strong."

Senior Logan Lucero set the tone early for the Knights, scoring five-straight with a game-opening three-pointer and a slash to the basket. He kept the intensity high throughout, grabbing four offensive rebounds to finish one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards. He also managed three assists, three steals, and a block in the win. 

With 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc, junior Taylor Abrahamson made an impact in his 18 minutes of floor time for the Knights. 

Gilbert Christian sank 10 threes in the affair. Lucero, Burke, and senior Tyler Burr each sank a pair against the Crusaders. 

The Knights have three regular season games left on the 2024-25 schedule. Monday and Tuesday's contests are on the road, at San Tan Foothills and at Payson. Both match-ups are slated for 7:00pm starts. Senior day will be held at home on February 6th, prior to the ALA-Ironwood showdown.

-GO KNIGHTS-