The Dawson Springs boys’ basketball team posted 29 points in the first quarter and overcame some first-half foul trouble to hold on for a 72-69 victory on Friday over Owensboro Knights Christian at the Commonwealth Rolled Products Tournament at McLean County.
Montgomery Johnston knocked down a pair of early three-pointers on the way to 14 first-quarter points and Rex Blue added seven points to give the Panthers a 29-18 advantage.
Charlie Fogel answered with 11 points in the second quarter for the Knights to trim the Dawson Springs’ lead to 40-33 at the halftime break.
Owensboro Christian continued to claw its way back behind five more points from Fogel in the third, cutting the Panther edge to three points with a quarter to play.
With the game on the line, Johnston erupted for 15 points to finish with a game-high 31 and send Dawson Springs to a narrow win.
Blue joined Johnston in double figures with 13 points, and Deacon Dever finished with ten.
Fogel led the Knights with 23, followed by Carpenter Ekbundit with 13.
The Panthers improved to 3-3 ahead of a matchup with McLean County on Saturday. The Cougars have won the last 14 meetings in the series.
Dawson Springs 29 11 13 19 — 72
Owensboro Christian 18 15 17 19 — 69
Dawson Springs (3-3) — Johnston 31, Blue 13, Dever 10, Plunkette 9, Bourland 6, Washburn 3
Owensboro Christian — C. Fogel 23, Ekbundit 13, Askins 9, J. Fogel 9, Johnson 8, Gunderson 7
