Dawson Springs couldn’t erase a 21-point halftime deficit against Madisonville-North Hopkins — but the Panthers gave it a go.
Heavy underdogs against a Maroon team that is ranked in the Top 10 in the state, Dawson Springs used a late offensive flurry to get without eight points before Madisonville got out of Panther Gym with a 90-82 triumph Thursday night.
Madisonville (13-3 overall, 2-0) was playing the first of three straight nights and tried to use its bench heavily in the second half.
Skyler Clark scored 12 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and Dylan Dawson had 10 of his 18 in the final period as the Panthers made things fun for the home folks down the stretch.
Down 88-79, the Panthers (5-8, 1-2) had a 3-pointer rim out with 24 seconds to go that would have made it a six-point game.
Clark made a 3 with 15 seconds left to make it 90-82, but eight points was as close as Dawson Springs could get.
The Maroons, who got 25 points from Kenny White and 23 from Ksuan Casey, ran out to a 28-13 lead and one quarter. Madisonville took a 50-29 margin to halftime.
But Dawson Springs outscored the Maroons in each of the final two periods and held a 53-40 advantage in the second half.
Landon Pace also had 18 points for the Panthers.
Madisonville continues its busy schedule on Friday with a trip to 7th District foe Caldwell County.
On Saturday, the Maroons will take on Louisville Male in a battle of Top 10 teams in the Toyota of Hopkinsville Classic at Christian County.
Madisonville-NH 28 22 18 22 — 90
Dawson Springs 13 16 20 33 — 82
Madisonville-North Hopkins (13-3, 2-0) — White 25, Casey 23, Hill 9, Tow 8, Vaughn 6, Johnson 5, Parker 4, Cline 3, Stone 3, Parish 2, Reynolds 2.
Dawson Springs (5-8, 1-2) — Clark 30, Dawson 18, Pace 18, Cotton 7, McKnight 5, Skinner 4.