YSE FIle Photo
Make it three straight wins to open the season for the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons, and none of the three have come easy. After a pair of one-point wins to start the week, the Maroons had to rally from 18 points down in the first half to take a 62-53 win over the Murray Tigers in the Grind Session at Calloway County High School.
The Maroons had only three field goals in the opening quarter as they fell behind 16-8 after one. Kanyon Johnson scored six of the eight Maroon points in the quarter.
After falling behind by 18 points, the Maroons kept battling to get back in the game during the last part of the second quarter and closed to within eight points at 28-20 at the half.
The second half was all Madisonville-North Hopkins. The Maroon offense got cranked up in the third quarter while the defense limited Murray to just eight points. Ley by Kanyon Johnson and Ryan Bryant, the Maroons thundered back to take a 39-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Maroons got a big final quarter from Landen Smith and hit 9 of 10 free throws to close out the comeback and the nine-point win.
Kanyon Johnson and Landen Smith had 18 points each to lead the Maroons. Ryan Bryant ended up with 9 points, all coming in the second half of play.
Murray was paced by Maddox Mitchell with 12 points. Acey Stricklin also hit double figures with 11. Harris Moore chipped in with 9 points.
Madisonville-North Hopkins (3-0) plays the home opener for the season Tuesday night when the Maroons host Christian County.
