For the first time since 2017, the Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad won the South Central Conference outright sweeping the conference with a 14-0 record. The class 3A #3 Panthers beat Albia 69-56, in a game that was closer than the final score read. Neither team could break away until late in the 3rd quarter as Knoxville led for most of the way between four and six points throughout the 1st half. After trading the lead early, the Panthers surged ahead by ten in the 1st quarter, but Albia made a run to close the gap to within five at halftime and took the lead early in the 3rd quarter before Knoxville went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good late in the 3rd quarter. Timely free throw shooting allowed Knoxville to extend the lead to the final margin of 13 in the last few minutes. Coach Joel Keady told KNIA/KRLS Sports his bench played a key role in the outcome.

Keady: “Some of our guys as we had some of our guys got into foul trouble with Koby, and Tristan and Cael really played some impactful minutes and gave us some good play for sure.”

Lincoln Norris scored 26 points, while brother Landen had 21 including 4/4 from the free throw line in the 4th quarter. The girls were unable to do anything going on and fell to the Lady Dees 59-32. Several unforced turnovers allowed Alnbia to get the game to double figures and take a lead too large for Knoxville to overcome. The girls are now 4-15 and finish conference play at 4-10 while Knoxville boys are 17-0. Both teams travel to Oskaloosa on Monday.

Photo from Ryan Northcote