The Knightly News presents its Top Five basketball performances of 2023

One of our sports reporters looks back at Knights hoops action last year

Woman -- Tahniyaah Jackson, No. 3, in an orange-on-white Knights jersey  -- Central Penn basketball player on the court signaling to a teammate to pass the ball in a 2023 game Trinity.
Tahniyaah Jackson
in action in January 2023 against Trinity Washington. Photo by Dylan Bowman
Smiling blond young man

By Blake Myers

Knightly News Sports Reporter

blake.myers@mymail.centralpenn.edu

Last year, Central Penn basketball provided some incredible moments and paved the way for more to come.

Smiling young woman in an orange-letter-on-black
Player photos courtesy Central Penn Athletics

A summary of some of those moments follows.

  1. Tahniyaah Jackson came up big for the Knights to lead the team to a 52-49 victory over Penn State York. On Jan. 9, the starting point guard had a game to remember: She scored 24 points, 14 rebounds and 3 assists to lead her team to a big-time win. In this game, Jackson would also end up coming through in the clutch, knocking down two big free throws at the end of the game, which sealed it for the Lady Knights for a Top Five performance.
Young man with beard in an orange-on-gray tank top basketball uniform with Knights and the number 20 on the front of the jersey in orange and with white outline

2. Quadere Allen had a career day against HACC. On Feb. 6, the guard/forward put up career-best numbers in a big 113-88 road win against Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). Allen fired on all cylinders offensively, posting 33 points and going 14-for-21 from the floor, along with shooting 2-for-4 from behind the arc. Allen made a big difference in this one with his display of his offensive skill set.

3. Nate Jean-Philippe’s offensive explosion led the Knights to that big on Feb. 6 against HACC, when the Knights point guard dominated the offensive side of the ball. He put up 31 points. Jean-Phillippe would also hit five from behind the arc, adding to this Top Five moment.

Young woman in orange-on-white basketball uniform with Knights and No. 1 on the jersey front

4. Ahnae Robinson came up big in a road win. On Dec.4, the Lady Knights guard had an unbelievable night on which people saw the Knights win 68-65 against the College of Southern Maryland. In this game, Robinson announced herself as a true scoring threat, putting up 29 off the bench. Robinson would be lights out in this game, as she went 12-for-12 from the floor and 5-for-8 from the free throw line.

Two men basketball players, one, a young bearded man in a white uniform taking a shot and the other a young clean-shaven man in black, trying to block the shot.
Allen, in white, in play against Williamson Trade last year.
Photo by Dylan Bowman
Woman basketball player, Tahniyaah Jackson, No. 3, in red-on-white uniform for the Central Penn Lady Knights dribbling the ball past half court against a defender in a black uniform, with the the blue number number 24.
Jackson. in white, driving down court in a 2022 season game.
Photo by Dylan Bowman

5. Quadere Allen flashed a fine smile after receiving the 1,000-point ball. He hit the milestone on Dec. 10 against Mid-Atlantic Christian University – a contest he entered with 992 points. He racked up 24 points in the 83-97 loss.

Allen was recognized on Dec. 12 before the Knights took down conference foe Williamson, 84-57. In this game, Allen recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. Allen would solidify himself into Knights basketball history, and had one of his best performances of the season, to help the Knights get back into the win column. 

2023 was a multi-milestone year for the Knights basketball teams, and we’re we’ve enjoyed the dynamic playing this year, and look forward to more.


Comment or story idea? Contact KnightlyEditors@CentralPenn.Edu.

Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.