A tight first half evolved into the Shane Knepp show in the second in a Division IV Central District semifinals match March 2 that was won by East Knox, 49-39, over Berne Union.
The Bulldogs came into the game with a three-game winning streak, a playoff win over Patriot Prep Academy, 44-28, and an 18-6 record. The Rockets gained the semis with a 59-50 win over Granville Christian and owned a 12-10 overall record.
Knepp, an all-league first team selection and the KMAC’s leading scorer this season at 17.4 points per game, scored five points in the first half, then was on fire later, rampaging the twine for 21 points in the decisive second half.
In the first, four Bulldogs hit two points apiece as EK emerged with an 8-7 lead. Knepp drained a three and four EK players hit two points apiece in the second to withstand a Jayden McAtee attack for Berne Union, as he scored seven in the quarter. Each team swished the iron for 11 in the frame as EK took a 19-18 lead into the locker room at the half.
Dillon Moreland scored five for the Bulldogs in the third, and Knepp started his display with seven in the frame as EK took a 13-11 advantage to own a 32-29 lead entering the fourth.
Knepp’s seven in the third were just the beginning; he put 14 points through the hoop in the fourth on three field goals and 8-for-9 at the line. Moreland got EK’s other three points on a trey as the Bulldogs dispatched the Rockets with a 17-10 quarter to take home a 10-point victory.
Among five scorers for the Bulldogs, Knepp led with a game-high 26 and Moreland added 10.
East Knox will move on to play Grove City Christian today in the Boys Basketball Division 4 District final at Capital University.
