The East Knox Bulldogs suffered another tough loss, falling to the Ridgedale Rockets 60-55 on December 27. The defeat marks the Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive loss and leaves them with a disappointing 2-6 record on the season.
Despite a strong second-half rally, East Knox could not recover from a sluggish first half in which they trailed 33-21 at the break. The Bulldogs showed resilience, outscoring Ridgedale 34-27 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit.
Senior Corbin Poff continued his standout season, leading the Bulldogs with 22 points. Freshman Landon Dawson also contributed significantly, finishing with 15 points, providing a bright spot for East Knox in a tough contest.
“We definitely fought hard in the second half,” said East Knox head coach Ryan Powell. “But we need to find a way to start stronger and play more consistently throughout the game. We can’t afford to fall behind like that against good teams.”
The Rockets, who improved to 5-2 with the win, were led by junior shooting guard Eric Gottfried, who scored 15 points. Point guard Isaac Lust added 10 points in the victory, as Ridgedale held firm through East Knox’s late surge.
“East Knox came out strong after halftime, but we did what we had to do to maintain our lead,” said Ridgedale coach Mike Mathey. “It was a solid team effort, and we’re proud of the way we kept our composure down the stretch.”
The Bulldogs’ defense struggled to contain Ridgedale’s perimeter shooters, as the Rockets managed to maintain their advantage for much of the game. East Knox, however, did show offensive promise with strong performances from their two leading scorers.
As East Knox continues to battle through their early-season struggles, a silver lining has been the emergence of young talent like Dawson, who has shown poise and scoring ability. The Bulldogs will look to build on their second-half performance and correct their mistakes when they host the Utica Redskins on Monday, December 30. The game will tip off at 7:15 p.m., with East Knox hoping to get back on track against a winless Utica squad.
“We’re looking forward to getting back on the court,” said Poff. “We know we can turn this around. We just need to focus on starting strong and playing together as a team.”
The Bulldogs have a crucial opportunity to rebound against Utica, a team still searching for its first win of the season. With a strong effort and focus, East Knox could break their losing streak and end 2024 with a much-needed victory.
