Mount Gilead 61, East Knox 55

Matt Bland of Mount Gilead (9-8, 6-5) became a member of the 1,000-point club in the final seconds of a 61-55 win over KMAC rival East Knox (2-14, 0-10) on Jan. 27. Bland, who is the leading scorer in KMAC at just under 22 points per game, scored 21 points to lead Mount Gilead.

East Knox started the scoring with a three by Carter Wesney, but this was followed by a steal and fast-break layup by Aaron Gannon of Mount Gilead to make it 3-2, Indians, with 5:45 left. Carter Kennon then tied the game at 5-5 on a three, but East Knox responded with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a three by Ethan Rine. Bland then got in on the action with a three to cut the lead to four. Quade Harris had a steal for Mount Gilead, while Derrick Field and Jax Lester both had a steal for East Knox. The Bulldogs held a commanding 16-8 lead after one quarter, with RIne netting five points.

In the second quarter, East Knox was up 18-8 when Kennon hit another three for Mount Gilead to cut the lead to seven. Bland then hit a layup on a fast break to make it 18-13, East Knox. This was quickly followed by a Gannon three to bring Mount Gilead within two points. With about a minute left in the half, Kennon drilled another three to tie the game 20-20. Gannon also had a block as the second quarter came to a close, but East Knox was able to tack on one more score before the quarter ended to go into halftime with a 22-20 lead. Kennon led the charge for Mount Gilead with six points on two threes, while Dustin Springer’s four points led East Knox.

It was a big third quarter for Mount Gilead, who outscored East Knox 20-12 to take a 40-34 lead. Gannon had six points and a block in the quarter and Bland and Rowan Fitzpatrick both had five points. Rine led East Knox with four points.

Each team scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, with Bland wrapping up the game strong with 11 points, including his milestone points to get him to 1,000. East Knox was led by Wesney’s 11 points, including a pair of threes, one of which came with about 3:55 left and brought East Knox within three points. With the score 59-52 in favor of Mount Gilead, Derrick Field hit one from downtown to make it a four-point game, but the Indians were able to hold on for the win. 

Springer had a block and Wesney had a steal for East Knox. Mount Gilead’s Gage Baker also had a block. In addition to Bland's 21, Kennon scored 15 points – all on threes – and Gannon added 13 points for the Indians.

Wesney had 18 points – including three from deep – for East Knox. Springer had 15 points, and Field and Rine both added nine.

Fredericktown 52, Northmor 44

Kaid Carpenter filled the stat sheet and was efficient from the floor with 16 points, leading the way for Fredericktown in a 52-44 win over Northmor on Jan. 27, giving the Freddies their second KMAC crown in three years.

Northmor started the game with a 5-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Jax Wenger. Fredericktown led 12-7 as the quarter was winding down, but Caleb Schnuerer made it a two-point game on a three for Northmor. Trevor Bellman had a steal and Teegan Ruhl had a block in the quarter for Fredericktown.

With the game at 16-14 in favor of Fredericktown, both teams showed defensive intensity with steals by Fredericktown’s Ben Mast and Northmor’s Grant Bentley. It was an 18-16 Fredericktown lead with four minutes left when Schnuerer hit another three to take the lead for the Golden Knights. The game was tied 20-20 and Luke Bean gave the Freddies a three-point lead on a make from deep on a step-back three from a couple feet behind the top of the arc. Hunter Fulk had a steal in the quarter for Northmor.

In the third quarter, the score was 24-24 when Carpenter nailed a three to give Fredericktown and 27-24 lead. Drew Hammond and Schnuerer both had a steal for Northmor in the quarter.

Northmor had a 41-40 lead in the fourth quarter, but Mast put the Freddies up by two on a three. With Fredericktown up 46-41 late in the game, Wenger made a three from the top of the key, making it a two-point game in favor of the Freddies. Down 48-44, Fulk’s strong defense continued with a steal, but the Freddies were able to hold on to a six-point win.

Carpenter led the way with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting, and eight boards and six assists. Brady Lester scored nine points, and added eight boards and an assist. 

“It was a great night for the Freddies, as we wrapped up our second league title in three years,” Fredericktown coach Derek Dibling said. “The guys were solid defensively and did a great job executing down the stretch and slowing down a really good offensive team in Northmor.”

Northmor was led by Wenger’s 14 points, two rebounds and six assists. Schnuerer had nine points.

Centerburg 59, Cardington-Lincoln 48

Centerburg (11-6, 9-2) won their fourth-straight contest and continues to be one of the top teams in KMAC with a 59-48 win over conference rival Cardington-Lincoln, propelled by another strong scoring night for Colton Martin.

Centerburg was up 2-0 when Grayson Reynolds came away with a steal to regain possession for the Trojans. Jack Lawrence had a steal moments later, followed by a Trevin Harris steal with the score 4-2 in favor of Centerburg. Isaiah Sule made it a 9-2 lead with a corner three, and Reynolds made it a 12-6 game on a three. Centerburg had a 16-14 lead after one quarter, led by Martin’s eight points.

In the second quarter, with the score 20-17 in favor of Centerburg, Harris hustled for a loose ball and wound up with his second steal. It was a 28-23 lead for Centerburg and Cardington-Lincoln was looking to cut the deficit, but Harris thought otherwise with a block under the basket. At halftime, the Trojans led 30-26, fueled by six points from Harris. Journey Williamson hit a pair of threes in the quarter for the Pirates.

In the third quarter, Centerburg was up 32-26 and Martin grabbed a loose ball to stop a Pirate scoring chance. On the next possession, Reynolds hit a shot from deep to make it a 35-26 game. At the end of three quarters, Centerburg led 47-34.

The Pirates played tough down the stretch, but it wasn’t enough to come back, as Centerburg wrapped up an 11-point win.

Martin has played well all season for the Trojans, sitting third in the league in scoring at about 18 points per game. He led all scorers in the game with 22 points, including eight clutch points in the fourth. Martin also had seven boards, two assists and three steals. Harris scored 18 points to go with four steals, six rebounds and three assists. Reynolds had 10 points, seven assists, seven boards and a steal.

Cardington-Lincoln was led by 15 points for Williamson, including three makes from downtown. AJ Hall added 11 points, including a fourth-quarter three.

Centerburg coach John Marhefka said he was was happy with the conference win and it was all about keeping momentum.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Marhefka said. “Both teams were playing well. Colton Martin and Trevin Harris really stepped up in crucial times throughout the game. They added key baskets and kept the momentum in our favor. I like the way we went on the road and battled through many variables to come out on top.”

Cardington-Lincoln coach Jason Rice said he was pleased with the performance, but there are aspects of his team's game that need work.

“Overall, I thought we had a very good first half and end of third and fourth, but we allowed them to make a run at the beginning of the third quarter and we missed several shots around the rim,” Rice said. “I thought Journey Williamson was a key part of our team on both sides of the ball and I thought Kalin Briggs also had a great game as we ran him at point guard for most of the game. Overall, I was very happy with our performance.”

Cardington-Lincoln 38, Lima Temple Christian 34

Cardington-Lincoln (6-14, 2-8) finished off the week strong with a 38-34 win over Lima Temple Christian (8-9, 2-2), in a complete team effort led offensively by Journey Williamson.

“Overall I’m really proud of the boys and they never gave up and kept believing in themselves and it helped propel them to a win and ended the week going 2-1,” Pirate coach Jason Rice said.

The Pioneers started the game with an 11-7 lead, with Williamson hitting five for the Pirates. Cardington-Lincoln cut the deficit at halftime to 17-15.

In a difficult third quarter being outscored 8-5, Coach Rice knew there were adjustments that needed to be made.

“Overall we didn’t play well the first three quarters and were down 25-20 going into the fourth quarter,” Rice said. “We weren’t making any shots and had no energy and looked tired from the night before game against Centerburg. I challenged the kids at the end of the third quarter to dig deep and believe in theirselves and their teammates.”

In the fourth quarter, the tables turned and the Pirates outscored the Pioneers 18-9 to secure a big comeback win. Coach Rice was happy with the way “the kids responded.”

“Kalin Briggs led us on defense and got steals and sealed the game with two big free throws to put the game away,” Rice said. “Merek McClure and Journey Williamson hit big threes down four to put us down one, and then the next possession to put us up two and keep the lead for good. AJ Brehm also made two big free throws down the stretch as well.”

Williamson was the top scorer for the Pirates with 13 points, including a pair of threes.