Knox County Boys Power Past Mustangs. New Assist Record Set

 Knox County Boys Power Past Mustangs. New Assist Record Set

By David Sharp
Knox County (12-5) scored the first 16 points of a January 30, 2009 varsity boys’ game with Marion County (0-13) and went on to a 70-19 win.
Lucas Hudson dished out 12 Knox County assists, extending his own single game school record by one.
The Eagles cracked off a 24-4 first quarter run. Nine different KCHS players scored and 11 participated. Marion County was down to six players after an automobile accident sidelined two boys.
The home team led 45-13 at the half. Knox County scored the first 18 points of the second half. Mitchel Penn stole the ball and scored for a 55-13 Eagle lead with 3:58 showing on the third quarter clock.
Lucas Hudson passed to junior Lance McMahon who tossed in a home run ball at the 1:34 mark of the third quarter for a 63-13 Knox County lead.
The assist tied the school record of 11 in a single game, set by Lucas Hudson on January 19, 2009 in the North Shelby Tournament against Marion County.
Nathan Witkowsky sank a Mustang three ball making the score 63-16 at the final break. The clock ran continuously by the Missouri Mercy Rule in the fourth quarter.
Tristan Lonberger laid the ball in with 7:08 to play in the fourth quarter for a 67-16 Knox County lead. Lucas Hudson fed the ball to the cutting Lonberger, establishing the new assist mark.
“Everybody got minutes. Everybody contributed tonight,” said Lucas Hudson after the contest. Joe Rice missed the game due to injury. Every Knox County participant scored, had a rebound or a steal.
The Eagles dominated the boards by an unofficial 40-14 margin. Marion County turned the ball over 25 times to four for Knox County. The Eagles dished out 23 team assists. Knox County led 6-1 in blocked shots.
Justin Reeves scored 20 points with five rebounds and three blocked shots, leading all scorers. Dennis Dent scored 18 points with six boards. Knox County shot 44% from the field while limiting Marion County to 19%.
Parker Dixson scored seven points with five rebounds. Mitchel Penn scored seven points, pulled down four rebounds with three steals. Lance McMahon scored five points with six rebounds and a blocked shot.
Tristan Lonberger scored five points with three steals, two rebounds and an assist. Keenan Gillaspy scored four points, dished out four assists, pulled down three rebounds with two steals.
Brett Wilkerson scored three KC points, led the team in rebounds with seven along with two assists and a blocked shot. Knox County was 7-11 for 64% from the charity stripe.
Brady James had a KCHS steal. Lucas Hudson did not score a point, but set up at least 25 of the Eagles’ 70 team points. Hudson had a rebound and two steals. Brett Bryant scored one point with two assists and a rebound.
Knox County has a big rematch at Brashear and a rescheduled conference home game with Brookfield on Friday, February 6.
Nathan Witkowsky led the Mustangs with eight points.
“It’s good to get some guys in and get some experience on a varsity floor and stage,” said Eagle coach Jesse Crawford. Lucas (Hudson) had a great game and continues to show his unselfish ability.”
“Justin Reeves looked like an animal out there,” said Crawford. “He is not playing like a sophomore. He is playing like an upperclassman. We came out, got some work in, nobody got hurt. We still have a battle Monday against Brashear.”
“We have won eight of our last nine games,” said Coach Crawford. “We are starting to get healthy at the right time.”
Knox County is within four wins of equaling their 2007-08 regular season victory total of 16 wins against nine losses.