Boys Basketball: Kiona-Benton 45, ROYAL 35

BENTON CITY - Shooting woes took the stage on Tuesday night and the Royal Knights wanted anything but this type of encore.

A 20 percent shooting performance from the field was enough to keep the Knights in check as they fell 45-35 to Kiona-Benton in South Central Athletic Conference (East) play.

"It isn't that the guys aren't playing hard or that we are missing something in practice," Royal head coach Pete Christensen said. "We  simply aren't hitting the shots we are given.  We only made three baskets the first half and eight baskets in the second half."

The Knights defense was tough in the first quarter, holder Ki-Be to only six points, but then again they themselves only put up four points and trailed after eight minutes of play.

Royal trailed 21-15 at halftime.

"More than a quarter of our final points were from free throws," Christensen said. "We just aren't shooting with confidence anymore."

Royal was led by Reed Lefler's 11 points and seven rebounds and Kent Christensen who scored eight points.