The Knoxville Boys and Girls Basketball Squads swept Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Friday night both winning by double digit margins 55-45 in the girls game and 73-61 in the boys contest heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The girls were good again defensively in the first half only allowing 15 points in the first 16 minutes of play and forcing ten Rocket turnovers. After getting the lead to 17 points, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont went on a 13-0 run to cut the lead to four only to see Knoxville finish on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter. Coach Jim Uitermarkt told KNIA/KRLS Sports it was the patience that his team showed that impressed him the most.

Uitermarkt:
You know our goal is always to keep the other team in the lower to mid 40s, and we accomplished that, and 55 is a good number for us offensvily.”

Maggie Wilkins led three Panthers in double figures with 23 points, Marley McKay had one of her best games of her career with 13 and Emma Dunkin had 11 points. In the nightcap, the Knoxville boys started a bit slow but gained traction in each half to gradually pull away from the Rockets. The Panthers shot 50% from the field and limited Eddyville-Blakesburg to 38%. Interim Coach Matt Ritchhart told KNIA/KRLS Sports he felt his guys in the second half were able to get more high percentage shots.

Ritchhart:
“We’re trying to get our kids to look inside to Luke since he’s our main scoring threat inside, but Keegan does a good job in there too, and Spencer did a good job of getting inside and kicking it out and that’s what happens when you get the ball inside.”

Kieren Nichols scored 22 points for high honors for the Panthers, Luke Keitges scored 18 and Spencer Hixson scored all 11 of his points in the second half. The Knoxville girls are 13-4 on the season and finish South Central Conference play at 10-2 while the boys are 11-5 and also finish conference play at 10-2. Both teams will play Martensdale-St. Mary’s on back-to-back nights with the girls playing Monday and the boys on Tuesday.