Madisonville-North Hopkins senior Kanyon Johnson
Madisonville-North Hopkins pulled out another close one Thursday night to equal its best start in 24 years.
Down 53-52 with 3 minutes left in the game, the Maroons put together another strong finish to turn back Hopkinsville 66-60 at Maroon Gym.
That improved Madisonville to 7-0 on the season — the school’s best start since the 2000-01 season.
Kanyon Johnson celebrated his birthday a day early with 22 points as the Maroons edged ahead late in what had been a back-and-forth second half.
Peyton Smith’s three-point play put Madisonville in front for good at 55-53.
Johnson had a key basket with 1:36 to play when he scored on a putback to give Madisonville a 59-55 advantage.
Landen Smith then scored from in close off an assist from Johnson to extend the Madisonville lead to 61-55 with 1:12 remaining.
Hoptown was still as close as 63-60 following a 3-pointer by Deavery Ramey with 31 seconds to go.
But Vonte Wilkes helped hold the Tigers at bay with two free throws at the 0:23 mark to make it a five-point game.
Trashaun Smith added 12 points for Madisonville while Landen Smith finished with 11 and Wilkes had nine.
Hopkinsville’s Ramey led all scorers with 26 points. James Bradley had 13 for the Tigers.
Madisonville led for much ofthe first half before heading to halftime with a 29-24 advantage.
However, a big third quarter helped Hopkinsville go in front 49-46 entering the final stanza.
The Maroons will play again on Friday when they visit Evansville Bosse.
The Tigers are back in action on Saturday when they face Martin Westview (Tennessee) in The Hardwood Classic at Calloway County.
Hopkinsville 10 14 25 11 — 60
Madisonville-NH 13 16 17 20 — 66
Hopkinsville (2-5)—Ramey 26, Bradley 13, Leavell 7, Hart 6, Giltner 6, Kay 2.
Madisonville-North Hopkins (7-0)—Johnson 22, T. Smith 12, L. Smith 11, Wilkes 10, P. Smith 9, Cheirs 2.
