Top-ranked Madisonville-North Hopkins turned away Dawson Springs 89-60 Monday night in semifinal round action at the boys’ 7th District tournament in Princeton.
The Maroons will carry a 13-4 record into Tuesday’s 6 p.m. championship game.
Madisonville never trailed in the tourney opener, running out to an 11-2 lead and going up 15-5 midway through the first quarter.
Dawson (0-16) settled down somewhat and got back to within 17-13 on a layup by Landon Pace, who went behind-the-back on his way down the lane to avoid a Madisonville defender.
But by the end of the period, the Maroons led 27-19.
By halftime, Madisonville held a 54-32 advantage.
The Maroons continued to add to the margin after the break.
It was 77-45 through three quarters and Madisonville worked in several players after reaching the 35-point mercy rule for a continuously-running clock.
Ashton Gaines had 26 points and Kale Gaither tallied 23 to lead the Maroons, but neither player saw the court in the fourth quarter. Gaines had 24 of his team-high point total in the first half. Gaither scored 16 of his points before the break.
Zach Tow added 15 points for Madisonville.
For Dawson, Logan McKnight and Landon Pace combined for 55 of their team’s 60 points. McKnight had 29 while Pace finished with 26.
Dawson Springs 19 13 13 15 — 60
Madisonville-NH 27 27 23 12 — 89
Dawson Springs (0-16)—Logan McKnight 29, Landon Pace 26, Dylan Skinner 3, Rett Nieters 2.
Madisonville-North Hopkins (13-4)—Ashton Gaines 26, Kale Gaither 23, Zach Tow 15, Landon Cline 9, J.T. Witherspoon 6, Brytton Walker 6, Danye Frazier 2, Destin Cheirs 2.
