Dawson Springs had all five starters in double figures and overcame a big night from the Heritage Christian Academy ‘Twin Towers’ as the Panthers picked up an 85-66 win Friday night on the Warriors home court.
The Warriors played one of their best quarters of the season to open the game. Led by a super effort from big man Cameron Oesch, HCA took a 21-17 lead after the opening quarter. The quarter was a battle from the beginning with the game tied at 4-4, 6-6, 13-13, 15-15, and 17-17 before the Warriors scored the final four points of the quarter.
The Panthers started to get their offense on track during the second quarter. With the game tied at 27-27, Dawson Springs scored the next nine points to take a 36-27 lead, a lead the Panthers would not surrender for the rest of the night.
A 3-pointer from Easton Bourland just before the horn sent the Panthers into the break with a 44-32 lead. After being shut out in the first quarter, Bourland scored 11 points in the second as the Panther defense took control of the game.
HCA battled the Panthers toe-to-toe in the third and trimmed a point off the lead at 57-46 as the quarter ended. The Panthers struggled to contain Noah Arvin down inside during the quarter as the Warriors kept themselves in the game.
But, the defensive pressure from the Panthers began to take its toll on the Warriors as the fourth quarter got rolling. Made shots were harder to come by and Dawson Springs was able to extend the lead to as many as 21 points before claiming the 19 point win.
Ethan Slaton led five Panthers in double figures with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Easton Bourland had 18, all coming after the first quarter. Noah Riley had 14 points. Cooper Burge ended the night with 12, and Jayden Plunkette chipped in 10 and 8 rebounds.
Noah Arvin and Cameron Oesch had huge nights for the Warriors. Arvin had 19 points and 17 rebounds, while Oesch had 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Dawson Springs improved to 7-15 with the win, while the Warriors dropped to 3-23.
