Photo credit: Dusty Layne
Evangel Christian was hoping to get a shot at Pikeville in the All ‘A’ Classic boys’ state tournament semifinals.
The Eagles had lost to the Panthers in the preseason, despite a staring lineup which featured four Division I prospects.
Evangel Christian made excuses for losing then. Even taking to social media.
This time around there were no words or excuses after the Panthers pulled away with a dominating second-half performance to crush the Eagles, 59-33, at McBrayer Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers outscored the Eagles 36-12 over the final 16 minutes.
Pikeville, now, 18-1, will face Breathitt County in the championship game at 2 pm Sunday. It is the first-ever appearance for the Panthers in school history.
Rylee Samons finished with a game-high 27 points, hitting seven, three-point baskets. Nick Robinson followed with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
At Richmond
(All ‘A’ Classic Final Four)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
EV (10-8)….12 9 8 4 – 33
PK (18-1)….11 12 19 17 – 59
Scoring:
Evangel Christian (33) – Kyran Tilley 2 0-0 4; Charqwan McCallister 1(2) 2-2 10; Gage Marby 2 1-3 5; Cyr Malonga 0 1-3 1; Christian Spalding 3(1) 2-2 11; and Aaron Taylor 1 0-0 2. Totals: 9(3) 6-10 33.
Pikeville (59) – Tate Walters 3 1-1 7; Laithan Hall 0(2) 0-0 6; Keian Worrix 0 2-2 2; Rylee Samons 2(7) 2-2 27; Nick Robinson 5 0-3 10; Carter Hurley 0 0-1 0; and Heath Jarrell 2(1) 0-0 7. Totals: 12(10) 5-9 59.
Pikeville……47
Murray……..40
Pikeville’s Keian Worrix hit clutch free throw down the stretch to carry the Panthers to a hard-fought 46-40 win over Murray on the boys’ quarterfinals played at McBrayer Arena on Friday.
Worrix and Nick Robinson finished with 12 points each as Pikeville advanced to the Final Four to face Evangel Christian.
Alex Rogers came off the bench and scored 11. Pikeville’s Rylee Samons and Laithan Hall both fouled out.
At Richmond
(All ‘A’ Classic Elite Eight)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PK (17-1)…….9 9 16 12 – 46
MR (17-3)….12 5 5 18 – 40
Scoring:
Pikeville (46) – Tate Walters 1(1) 0-4 5; Keian Worrix 2 8-8 12; Rylee Samons 0(1) 0-0 3; Nick Robinson 6 0-0 12; Heath Jarrell 0(1) 0-0 3; and Alex Rogers 4(1) 0-1 11. Totals: 13(4) 8-13 46.
Murray (40) – Zavion Carman 1 1-2 3; Drew May 0(1) 2-3 5; Trey Boggess 2 1-3 5; Grant Whitaker 7(1) 6-6 23; Caleb Gill 0 1-2 1; Kobe Watson 0(1) 0-0 3; and Collin Wilson 0 0-1 0. Totals: 10(3) 11-17 40.