PANTHER MEAT

The Knox Central Panthers refused to roll over for the Corbin Redhounds last night at Gilliam Gym.
The Panthers came in with a 3-12 record against the 10-6 Redhounds and gave Corbin all they wanted. In the end it was the Redhounds taking a 71-62 win.
The Redhounds struggled in the first half, easing out to a 36-31 lead at the half.. Corbin led at the end of the first quarter, 16-14.
The second half saw the Redhounds try to pull away once again as Corbin opened up a seven point lead (38-31) early in the quarter but the Panthers came right back and tied the game with a 7-0 run.
Craig Bargo’s three point basket tied the game at 38-38.
Ryan Swim, who led all scorers with 23 points on the night, pushed Corbin back on top 39-38, then a three pointer by Josh Hamlin sent the Redhounds on top 42-38.
The Panthers refused to quit and pulled within one, 42-41 on a Bargo three point play.
Swim answered once again by going inside for a basket and drawing the foul. He added the old fashion three point play for a 45-41 lead.
Knox Central had several more runs in them and pulled within one, 47-46 on a three pointer.
However, Corbin closed out the final minute with a 7-2 run and led 54-48 going into the final eight minutes.
Swim scored on back to back baskets in the paint while sophomore Deke Barley nailed a three pointer with seconds remaining in the quarter.
Senior Kyle French opened the fourth period with a three pointer and the lead was nine (57-48).
But the game was far from over as Knox Central hung around. The Panthers cut the lead to five (60-55) on a basket by Williamson.
Swim and French answered once again with back to back baskets as the Corbin lead grew back to nine points.
The Panthers were unable to recover as Corbin maintained a sizeable lead down the stretch.
The Redhounds did have to convert free throws in the final minutes to secure the victory.
Hamlin pushed the lead into double figures 69-58 and the Redhounds led 71-60 after senior Ryan Tate hit a jump shot with seconds remaining.
Hamlin and French scored on double figures as well for the Redhounds. Hamlin added 11 points while French tossed in 10 points.
Bargo, a junior, led the Panthers with 17 points.
Corbin will be at home Friday night when they entertain the Wayne County Cardinals.
The Redhounds will also be at home Tuesday night when they get back into district action against the South Laurel Cardinals.
South Laurel, the state’s third ranked team, won the first meeting in London, 73-37.

Corbin 71, Knox Central 62
Knox Central 14 17 17 12- 71
Corbin 16 20 18 11- 62
Knox Central (62) – Brown 2, Bargo 17, Embry 12, Smith 3, Miller 14, Williamson 14.
Corbin (71) – Crawford 8, Swim 23, Barley 3, Hamlin 11, French 10, Tate 9, Smith 4, Rogers 3.