The East Knox boys’ basketball team (0-9, 0-3) played their best game of the season and led much of the way, but the Ridgedale Rockets (5-3, 0-3) out-rebounded the Bulldogs and made big plays down the stretch to take a tight 57-52 win on Jan. 3.
East Knox started off the scoring early on a three by Kyson Miller to go up 3-0 with 7:25 left in the first quarter. On the next Ridgedale possession, Bryer Korosec stepped in front of a pass for a steal. Down 5-3 with 5:40 on the clock, Corbin Poff stole the ball and took it all the way to the basket to tie the game. Ridgedale took a 16-10 lead in the first quarter, led by Eric Goffried who had eight points including a pair of threes. Landon Murphy and Evan Ricketts each had four points for the Rockets. The Bulldogs had a three from Kyson Killer and Jesse Dudgeon in the opening quarter. Poff led the East Knox scoring with four points. Derrick Field played well on defense with a steal and a block, as well.
The second quarter was a different story, as East Knox woke up to score 19 points. Down 19-16, Hayden Merritt drilled a three to tie up the game. Jesse Dudgeon hit a three of his own on the next possession to go up by three with 4:15 left. With 3:08 left in the half, Logan Whitney nailed a three to put East Knox up 25-21. The game was tied 29-29 at halftime. Dudgeon had nine points including a pair of threes. Whitney and Merritt each hit threes, while Poff and Zeke Proudfoot had two points apiece.
In the third quarter with 4:55 left, East Knox tied the game 38-38 on another three by Miller. East Knox took a 45-42 lead to end the third quarter, with Merritt scoring six points including a make from downtown to lead the charge. He also had a blocked shot. Goffried had six points for the Rockets.
Leading in the fourth quarter with hopes of securing their first win of the season, East Knox sputtered offensively and were outscored 15-7 to take a tough loss where the Rockets came back to win.
Poff and Dudgeon led the scoring charge for the Bulldogs with 12 points apiece. Merritt put up nine points, Whitney had six points and Miller scored five points. Bryer Korosec scored four points and Proudfoot and Jesse Wolford rounded out the Bulldog scoring with two points each.
The Rockets were led by Goffried, who had 21 points in the win. Ricketts also hit double figures with a 15 point scoring night.
East Knox shot 40% and 33% from three, while holding Ridgedale to 33% and 13%. However, East Knox trailed 38-24 in boards and 10-4 in steals. They led 9-5 in assists and 2-1 in blocks.
This was the best offensive output of the season, and Coach Ryan Powell said that despite not being able to find the win column, the Bulldogs have been looking better and better each time out on the court.
"We have been playing better the last few games," said Powell. "We are making progress offensively- 52 points is our high game this season, but rebounding and turnovers are hurting us. We were outrebounded 38-24, which I felt was the difference in the game."
