Panthers knock off Eastern, Charlestown

After losing 11 consecutive games, Corydon Central’s boys basketball team is clicking as it heads toward the stretch run of the season.
The Panthers have won three of their past four games, with the latest conquest coming on Friday night in overtime against Eastern.
Corydon (4-12, 2-5 M.S.C.) was spurred by a season-high 17 points from junior swing man Ryan Herndon and a career-high 19 by sophomore forward Matt Key. Lucas Taylor and Jared Ashton tossed in eight points apiece and Eric Haub scored seven.
Eastern (8-7, 1-5) led by one after the opening period, 19-18, but fell behind at the half, 36-32.
The visiting Musketeers battled back to hold a slim lead heading into the fourth quarter and Corydon knotted the game to force overtime.
Key had a late three-point play with under a minute left to secure the victory for the Panthers, who were coming off a win last Tuesday over Charlestown.
In the victory over the Pirates, Ashton (18) and Taylor (13) led the way for the winners, with Billy Saulman adding nine points, Herndon chipping in eight and Haub marking seven.
Charlestown (4-11, 0-6) was without the services of its leading scorer, Alex Hall, who was out with a shoulder injury.
The deciding period last Tuesday was the second frame, where the Panthers outscored Charlestown by 10 to take a 32-18 lead into the break.
Anthony Adkins scored 27 points and had a season-high 21 rebounds for Eastern while Charlestown was led by the 19 points of Josh Wilson.
Corydon Central continues its Mid-Southern Conference slate this Thursday night in a tilt against Austin (15-3, 5-1), which is the No. 8 team in Class 2A.
The Eagles are led by Jeremy Holland, a 6-8 senior who averages 20.3 points and 8.9 rebounds a game, and 5-11 Donnie Chambers, who is another senior who puts in 14.3 points and 6.5 boards a contest.
Brownstown and Scottsburg lead the conference with marks of 7-1.
Floyd Central 72, South Central 55
Host South Central failed to answer the bell in the second half and wound up suffering a 17-point setback to Floyd Central on Saturday, 72-55.
After leading at the break, 31-24, the Rebels (6-10) hit a cold spell offensively as the visitors turned up the heat defensively.
‘We got shots off that didn’t go in and then they hit some shots that weren’t falling in the first half. Things kind of snowballed against us,’ South coach Greg Robinson said. ‘We played extremely hard on the boards and out-rebounded them. That’s one portion of the game that I’ll take. We have to focus on the positives that we can take from a game like that.’
South led until the final seconds of the third period, and then the Highlanders (6-9) took control late, outscoring the hosts, 27-10, in the final period.
Despite the loss, the Rebels got a huge night from James Crosier, who hit 11 of 14 free throws and notched a career-high 15 points.
Jimmy Jamison scored 10 and Derek Kaiser and Dustin Hornickel each chalked up eight points for South.
‘James really stood out on Saturday,’ Robinson said. ‘He drew fouls and made some nice post moves.’
Things won’t get any easier this Thursday night for the Rebels, as they’ll travel to No. 3-ranked (Class 2A) and once-beaten Providence (15-1).
The Pioneers are coming off a 15-point decision against New Albany; a game played in front of 4,100 fans.
‘I’ve seen them on film and defensively, they are the real thing. They don’t make a lot of mistakes. It will definitely be a challenge,’ Robinson said. ‘You don’t get the opportunity to play a highly ranked opponent that often. Hopefully we can play well and maybe make some waves statewide.’