TERRE HAUTE — It was the first time the South Knox boys played at Rose-Hulman, but after Saturday's basketball performance in the Gobbler Classic, Dylan Maeder should ask for a return trip.
Maeder scored a career-high 17 points, all coming in the first three quarters, and he along with Jackson Hoops spurred a key third-quarter run as the Spartans knocked off Evansville Harrison, 56-50.
South Knox (2-0) received good offensive balance, with four scoring in double figures. Dakota Candler tacked on 15 points, and Hoops and Sam Singleton 11 apiece.
"We played pretty well for three quarters and were aggressive in the third quarter," Spartans coach David Burkett said. "Harrison is a high-quality opponent. They have some guards and the big guy gave us fits in the first half. I think they're good enough to win their sectional.
"We've been waiting for that out of Dylan. I'm sure their scouting report was focused on Dakota, and Dylan made them pay. He and Hoops made some key shots for us," he said. "Evan Thompson also gave us huge minutes. The big thing was he didn't turn it over against their pressure."
The Spartans led a back-and-forth 26-22 first half. Early in the third quarter they put together an eight-point run, a Candler basket followed by 3-pointers by Maeder and Hoops, to extend their lead to 37-27.
The advantage got as big as 48-35 on a Hoops' basket halfway through the fourth quarter. The Warriors took a big bite out of the deficit, getting as close as 54-50 with 46 seconds to go. South Knox helped Harrison (0-1) close the gap, hitting just 9-of-18 free throws in the fourth quarter to go with six turnovers.
Malachi McNair paced the Warriors with 20 points.
"Evan (0-for-2 in the fourth quarter) has to make his free throws, but it's not just him, it's everybody," Burkett said. "We also have to rebound better off long shots. That's something our guards did an extremely good job of last year."
The Spartans host North Knox in their home opener at 6 p.m. Friday.
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SOUTH KNOX 56, EVANSVILLE HARRISON 50
BOYS-SATURDAY
SOUTH KNOX
Maeder (f) 6 1-2 17, Singleton (f) 2 6-12 11, Candler (c) 4 7-10 15, Thomas (g) 0 0-0 0, Hoops (g) 3 3-5 11, Peterson 0 0-0 0, Robinson 0 0-0 0, Thompson 1 0-2 2. Totals: 16 17-31 56.
EVANSVILLE HARRISON
McNair (f) 9 1-1 20, Summitt (f) 0 0-0 0, Hooks (g) 4 1-5 9, Speer (g) 4 0-0 11, Sims (g) 2 2-4 7, Horn 0 0-0 0, Bard 1 0-0 3. Totals: 20 4-10 50.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
South Knox |12-14-17-13 — 56
Evansville Harrison |11-11-9-19 — 50
3-pointers: South Knox 7 (Maeder 4, Hoops 2, Singleton), Harrison 6 (Speer 3, Bard, Sims, McNair). Fouls: South Knox 17, Harrison 26. Fouled out: Horn, Speer, Summitt. Technical fouls: Singleton, Hoops, Sims.
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