Knights can make statement Tuesday

The Evans Knights have proved to be the county's top boys basketball team this season.

Led by Hank McCladdie, the Knights are unbeaten in county contests. On Tuesday night, Evans travels to Greenbrier for a non-region game against the Wolfpack.

Kevin Kenny's squad could also cement itself as the premier team in Columbia County with another win over the Pack.

The Knights already have two wins over Greenbrier. However, both of those games were extremely tight and Greenbrier was without two of its top players in forward Rich Poythress and guard Eugene Rogers, who played in the second game.

The Wolfpack have played much better now that Poythress and Rogers are back in the lineup. They posted a huge win over Baldwin, one of the state's top programs.

Poythress also poured in 25 points as Greenbrier knocked off Burke County this week.

The Knights have also been playing well of late. McCladdie knocked down a game-high 27, including the game-winning bucket in a big win over Glenn Hills on Tuesday night. McCladdie has not been alone.

Jerome Manual has stepped up as a reliable scoring option for Evans.

Also, Matt Hebbard has had several key performances recently for the Knights.

Greenbrier has home court advantage, so the team may actually be a slight favorite in the game, but it is really a toss-up.

Knights fans will say this game is important, but they are still the county's best team, having beaten Greenbrier twice.

Meanwhile, Pack fans will claim that Evans topped them with two of their key players out of the lineup.

This game shows who is the top dog in Columbia County basketball. Both sides have valid arguments.

I, for one, am just glad I'll be there to catch the game, which will be taped by Comcast to be broadcast on the following dates: 4 p.m. Wednesday on Channel 66; 4 p.m. Friday on Channel 66; and at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 on Channel 4.