The Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad started strong and finished strong in an 83-44 blowout win over Fort Madison in the class 3A Substate Semifinal heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The Panthers bolted out of the gates to a 22-7 lead. That lead built to as high as 30 in the first half, before Knoxville got up by 40 and coasted to a 39 point win. The Panthers used lock down defense to build a big lead that Fort Madison would never recover from. Senior player Kaiden Smith told KNIA/KRLS Sports, it was the team’s trust in the coaching staff and their own play that made the difference.

Smith: “Keady throughout the week just gave us a great game plan and we have to trust him, and Landon scoring like that, I know it’s got to be frustrating and we just played out normal defense nothing special.”

Landon Norris scored 17 of his game high 27 points in the first half to pace three Panthers in double figures. Lincoln Norris scored 14 points and Smith had 13. Knoxville is now 23-0 and will host Keokuk on Monday in a go to state game which you can hear live on your radio home for Knoxville High School Sports 95.3 KNIA.

Photo from Ryan Northcote