Mount Vernon 66, Ashland 43
Mount Vernon’s (5-7, 3-5) Caden Rowland has missed some time due to injuries but the 6-foot-3 senior showed no signs of rust in his return, leading the way with a big scoring night on Jan. 6 in a 66-43 win over Ashland (3-10, 1-4).
Mount Vernon had a 16-12 lead after one quarter, and the Yellow Jackets were dominant in the second, outscoring Ashland 15-4 to go up 31-19 at halftime. The Jackets had a 17-14 scoring advantage in the third and went 18-13 to close out the game for a 23-point win.
Rowland led the Jackets with 21 points. Hudson Rohler also had a quality night offensively with 17 points. Ben Bridges narrowly missed double figures with a nine-point output.
Mount Vernon boys basketball coach Nick Coon was happy to have Rowland back in the lineup, and also said that playing quality defense was a main focal point for the team.
“Our team set the tone tonight defensively,” said Coach Coon. “We have been emphasizing that area and it was great to see the work pay off. Having Caden Rowland back in the lineup after missing the last four games due to injury was certainly a difference maker."
Mount Gilead 66, Cardington-Lincoln 51
Mount Gilead (5-6, 3-3) got a three-headed monster out of Matt Bland, Aaron Gannon and Carter Kennon in a 66-51 win over Cardington-Lincoln (5-7, 2-3), in which all three excelled offensively, particularly down the stretch, Jan. 6.
In the first quarter, the game was tied 6-6 with about four minutes left on the clock when Knox Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) top scorer Bland drained a three to go up 9-6. The Pirates scored a basket to make it a one-point game, but Bland sank a three to go up 12-8. Mount Gilead was ahead 14-8 and Kennon protected the rim with a blocked shot underneath the basket. The Indians added a bucket and Gannon displayed his rim-protecting skills as well, swatting away a shot with authority to keep it a 16-8 lead for Mount Gilead.
In the second quarter, with the Indians lead at 10, Gannon came out of nowhere for another block. With about 3:30 left in the half, Gannon made it a 25-15 game on a fast break layup. Mount Gilead led 25-19 at the half.
In the third quarter, Bland took it coast to coast to make it a 29-19 lead with about three minutes left. He made it a 38-29 lead with a 3-pointer toward the end of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Mount Gilead led 44-36 when Kennon put them up 11 on a three from the corner. He hit another three to make it 53-45. Kennon had 13 points in the quarter, including making all five free throws he took. Mount Gilead outscored Cardington-Lincoln 24-17 in the final frame.
Bland and Gannon each scored 22 points to lead all scorers in the game. Gannon hit seven of his eight free throws. Bland had four threes in the game. Kennon had 17 points with two threes, and went 7-for-8 from the line.
For Cardington-Lincoln, Kalin Briggs scored 12 points, including a pair of threes. A.J. Hall had 10 points and A.J. Brehm, Journey Williamson and Gavyn Crockett each scored nine points.
Fredericktown 59, Centerburg 50
Luke Bean was a sharp-shooter from downtown against Centerburg (6-5, 5-1) on Jan. 6, hitting six 3-pointers to lead the Fredericktown Freddies (7-5, 6-0) to a 59-50 win.
In the first quarter, Fredericktown went up 4-0 with 6:40 left, highlighted by a fast break layup by Brady Lester following a steal. Up 6-4, Fredericktown’s Kaid Carpenter grabbed a steal and then took it to the basket for a rim-rattling, two-handed slam on a fast break to make it a four-point game. Fredericktown extended their lead to 15-8 after one.
In the second quarter, Trevin Harris turned defense into offense for Centerburg with a steal and fast break layup to make it a 15-10 game in favor of the Freddies. With 7:05 on the clock in the second quarter, Bean gave Fredericktown an 18-10 lead on a three. After a Centerburg three by Colton Martin, Bean responded with another trey to make it a 21-13 game with 6:40 left. The Freddies were up 21-18 with five minutes left in the half thanks to a three by Isaiah Sule, and Bean drained another shot from deep to go up by six. He hit another from beyond the arc with 4:30 left, making it a 27-18 game. Bean’s hot hand continued from deep with another three at 3:07, giving the Freddies a 30-19 lead. The Freddies took a 32-20 lead into the half.
In the third quarter, Centerburg outscored Fredericktown 15-12, with Jack Lawrence and Grayson Reynolds each putting up five points. Reynolds hit a three to make it a 32-23 game with about three minutes left. Martin added four points for the Trojans. Bean continued his hot shooting from three, with another make from deep for the Freddies.
Both teams scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a three by Ben Mast for the Freddies and six points for Lawrence.
Fredericktown was led by Bean’s 18 points, which all came on 3-pointers, including five in the third quarter. Lester scored 12 points in the win.
Centerburg was led by Martin, who scored 16 points and made 7-of-9 from the free-throw line, as well as a three. Martin added six boards, two assists and two steals. Reynolds had 12 points, including a three, one rebound and three assists. Harris hit double figures with 10 points to go with six boards, two steals and two blocks.
Danville 65, East Knox 38
Danville’s (4-6, 1-4) Payne trio all hit double figures, as they proved to be a pain for the East Knox (EK) Bulldogs (2-7, 0-5) who were handily beaten by the Blue Devils, 65-38. Max Payne was Danville's top scorer with 15 points, Spencer Payne scored 13 points and Wesley Payne had 12 points for the Blue Devils.
The game was close early with Danville up 14-10 after one quarter. Max Payne put up five points, including a make from three in a 9-2 Blue Devils run. Spencer Payne recorded a pair of steals in the quarter for Danville.
The score was tied with 2:20 left in the second, when Wesley Payne drained a wide-open three to make it a 21-18 game in favor of the Blue Devils. Danville took a 26-18 lead into the half.
In the third quarter with 7:50 left, at 26-18, Wesley Payne nailed another shot from deep to put Danville up by 11 points. With 6:25 on the clock, Spencer Payne made it a 33-18 game on a fast break layup. With 1:25 on the clock, Spencer Payne drained a three to make it a 42-25 lead for Danville. After three quarters, Danville led 44-25.
In the fourth quarter with 7:38 on the clock, Dustin Beckett hit a three for Danville to make it a 47-25 lead over EK. With about 4:45 left, Spencer Payne put the Blue Devils up 57-28 on a fast break.
Joining the Payne boys in double figures for Danville was Ashton Spaulding, who scored 11 points. East Knox was led by Dustin Springer, who scored 10 points in the game. Carter Wesney had eight points and Ethan Rine had seven points.
