To be the best, you have to beat the best. On Tuesday night in Dawson Springs, that’s exactly what the Panthers did, beating Madisonville-North Hopkins, 80-67, for the first time in over 10,000 days. The last time it happened was in the 1996-97 district tournament, and it marked the first time ever in DSHS’s current gym, built in 1968.
Sometimes the big boys overlook the little guys; ask Goliath how that turned out. On this night, it was the Panthers that weren’t backing down, especially against the undefeated 7th District leader. Dawson’s Rex Blue started ripping the nets fast, as he buried the first two buckets of the game for 3-pointers on his way to 18 first half points and a 20-11 first quarter lead.
Dawson Springs led by a hair at 22-21 when Easton Bourland buried a triple with 4:10 before the half to give Dawson the 25-21 lead. From there DSHS built its cushion to 34-23 after Bourland scored and was fouled, hitting the free throw. A pair of buckets by the Maroon’s Landen Smith in the final minute before the half drew the game to within five at 35-30.
However, Blue was fouled while attempting a three as time was expiring. Blue, one of the state’s top free-throw shooters, drilled all three and gave the Panthers the 38-30 halftime advantage. The first bucket of the second half came within 15 seconds of play.
Instead of drilling another 3-pointer Blue drove to the hole, was fouled and made his free-throw for the three the old-fashioned way. The Maroons rallied,.
