KNOXVILLE — The Davis County Mustangs made the long trek to Knoxville Tuesday night for South Central Conference battle and the home confines of the Panthers were not friendly. The Panthers drained five first half three-point baskets on their way to a lead of 18-12 after one quarter and 29-19 at halftime.
Emma Dunkin buried three triples on her way to a 15-point first half. Hannah Dunkin and Natalie Collins also fired in long balls for the Panthers in the first half.
It appeared that the Panthers had this game under control. But not so fast. The Lady Mustangs regrouped at halftime and came out in the third period with a resolve to get back in the game. And they did just that with an 11-4 run that cut the deficit to 33-30 going into the final stanza. Sophia Young stepped up for the Mustangs with three baskets and a pair of free throws and Jalee Lough added a conventional three-point play to account for the DC points in the quarter.
The Panthers were reeling and looking for an answer. That answer was found in Brittany Bacorn. Bacorn scored 12 of her 14 points in the fourth period to lead the charge to the finish.
It was an 8-2 run to open the final eight minutes that kick-started the Panther offense. Bacorn got things rolling with a rebound put back and then she sandwiched a pair of layups around a gritty drive through heavy traffic by Emma Dunkin for two and a 41-32 Knoxville lead.
The Mustangs kept the fight alive with nine consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter, but they could not overcome the production of Bacorn on the inside and the shooting of Emma and Hannah Dunkin on the outside. Reese Humphrey, with an inside three-point play and a pair of free throws and Lough, with a three ball and a pair of free throws led the DC fourth quarter offense.
“I thought we had a good chance for a win when we cut it to three points at the end of the third quarter,” Mustang coach Jeff Graves said. “We had four good looks at the basket to begin the fourth period and none of them would go down. We just didn’t shoot well tonight. We have had 60 and 70-point games, but not tonight. I was pleased with our defense and I thought we challenged their shooters”.
Emma Dunkin led a trio of Panthers in double digits with 21 points. Bacorn chipped in with a huge double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds and Hannah Dunkin added 11 points. Young and Humphrey led the Mustangs with 11 points apiece.
“That third quarter let down hit us again,” Panther coach Matt Ritchhart said. “I don’t understand it, but it has been a common problem. We just got a little sideways in our offense and got out of rhythm in the third quarter. We played very well at the offensive end in both the first and fourth quarters. I felt that picking up the speed and pressure of our defense in the fourth quarter was a big asset. Brittany Bacorn had a terrific fourth quarter on the inside and Emma Dunkin was more aggressive tonight and shot very well.”
The Panthers travel to Oskaloosa on Thursday night and are back home Saturday night for the Coaches vs Cancer game against Chariton.
Davis County 12 7 11 14 - 44
Knoxville 18 11 4 21 - 54
Knoxville scoring (FG FT-FTA Pts) – Larissa Wells 1 0-0 3, Emma Dunkin 6 6-8 21, Anna Buttell 1 0-0 2, Hannah Dunkin 3 4-6 11, Brittany Bacorn 7 0-0 14, Natalie Collins 1 0-1 3. Team 19 10-15 54. Three-point goals (6) E. Dunkin 3, Wells 1, H. Dunkin 1, Collins 1.
Knoxville rebounds (24) – Bacorn 12, H. Dunkin 4, E. Dunkin 4, Collins 2, Wells 1, Buttell 1.
Knoxville steals (11) – Wells 3, E. Dunkin 2, H. Dunkin 2, Bacorn 2, Collins 1, Anna Anderson 1.
Knoxville assists (13) – Collins 4, H. Dunkin 3, E. Dunkin 3, Buttell 2, Bacorn 1.
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