The Knoxville Basketball Squads settled for a split with Centerville Friday night as the boys won a rock fight 46-41 and the girls fell to the Big Reds 52-43 as heard on 95.3 KNIA. The boys had to deal with Centerville taking nearly a minute off the clock every possession which kept the game close and at the Big Red’s pace. Knoxville was able to keep Centerville at arm’s length for most of the way, but in the 4th quarter the Big Reds tied it at 35, but the Panthers would reestablish control to pick up the win. Coach Troy Pearson told KNIA/KRLS Sports defense was drilled in the days leading up and his guys responded.

Pearson: “I’m so impressed by how our kids came out, and what we drilled for the last two days. They kept people from getting into the lane and that’s refreshing to see what you did in practice carry over to the game.”

Gabe Clark led the Panthers with 12 points while Landen Norris was the other Panther in double figures with ten. The girls were stymied by Centerville’s one/three/one defense all night and never got on track in a nine point loss. The Panthers did make a run in the 3rd quarter to cut the lead to four and had the lead down to three in 4th quarter with the ball but was unable to get any closer. Hannah Dunkin led Knoxville with 15 points. The boys are now 4-11 on the season and 4-7 in South Central Conference play, while the girls are now 9-7 and 6-5 in conference action. The boys will travel to Grinnell on Monday while the girls are off until Tuesday when they head to Albia.