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Knox Co. Boys Upset Second Seeded Cougars

Knox Co. Boys Upset Second Seeded Cougars

By David Sharp
Knox County and Highland hooked up in another hard fought, closely played boy’s first round match up in the 40th Annual Highland Tournament. A short handed Highland team lost at Knox County in a classic contest.
Knox County (4-3) was able to limit a potent Cougar offense enough to force overtime. The contest was tied at 19 entering halftime. Neither team led by much more than four to six points.
The Eagles kept Highland from scoring in the final 40 seconds of regulation. Brandon Davie had a contested shot at the buzzer for the win. Davie dropped a pair of home run balls in overtime. Brandon Davie missed the first Highland/Knox County game with a medical issue.
Leighton McCabe and Donovan Edwards sank critical overtime free throws, leading seventh seeded Knox County to the 56-51 overtime victory. “We worked all during the Christmas break on improving our defense,” Knox County coach Zach Summers said.
“We had been giving up too many easy baskets. They finally got (Brandon Davie) back,” Coach Summers said.
“He is a great player. We were able to communicate on defense and hold him down. We went in and got after it on the press.”
Austin Richmiller led Highland (3-7) with 16 points. Brandon Davie fired in 14 Cougar points. JT Gray scored eight points.
“Both teams were very competitive. We turned the ball over again, a lot,” Highland coach Clyde Rosencrans said.
“We went 4-10 from the foul line. We had a chance to win it in regulation,” Coach Rosencrans said. “We did some bad things and wound up throwing it away in overtime. (Leighton McCabe) made numerous foul shots in that overtime session.”
“We didn’t take care of the basketball. There were times when we had a four point lead and come down and throw it out of bounds,” Clyde Rosencrans said. “We just made poor decisions. Give them (Knox County) some credit. They would capitalize.”
“They came down, didn’t make mistakes and scored. It was an evenly matched game,” Rosencrans said. Royce Poore shared game scoring honors with 16 Knox County points.
Leighton McCabe fired in 15 points. McCabe was 5-6 from the free throw line in overtime. Donovan Edwards made both his overtime free throws. Knox County was 14 of 23 overall from the charity stripe.
Kellen Gillaspy stepped up with 12 points. Sharri Edwards scored eight points. Andrew Hunolt scored three and Donovan Edwards one KCHS point. Knox County lost to eventual tournament champion Palmyra 56-44 in the championship semi finals.
Highland (4-7) rebounded to top conference rival Macon by a 58-56 margin in overtime, earning a shot at Clark County in the consolation championship game. Derrick Smith was back from a disciplinary suspension with 21 Highland points. Brandon Davie scored 15. Austin Richmiller was in double figures with 12 points.