Golden Eagles top Pikeville 74-69

STAFF REPORT

BSN

BELFRY – Winning on a neutral court, Johnson Central defeated 15th Region rival Pikeville 74-69 in the Mountain Schoolboy Classic at Belfry High School on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The Golden Eagles outlasted the Panthers in a 15th Region boys' basketball showdown.

Johnson Central improved to 13-1 after posting the win.

Pikeville dropped to 7-6 after suffering the loss.

Johnson Central shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the field. The Golden Eagles were 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) from 3-point range.

Johnson Central shot 81.2 percent (13-of-16) from the free throw line.

Cory VanHoose led Johnson Central with a double-double, scoring 30 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Adding a double-double of his own for the Golden Eagles, John King scored 17 points and snatched 10 rebounds.

Finishing directly behind King in scoring for Johnson Central, Isaiah May added 16 points.

The Golden Eagles took a lead out of each quarter. Johnson Central led 33-31 at halftime after outscoring Pikeville 19-8 in the opening period.

Rylee Samons, Laithan Hall and Nick Robinson scored 14 points apiece to lead the Panthers. Joining three of his teammates in double figures in scoring for Pikeville, Zac Lockhart added 13 points.

Johnson Central and Pikeville met for the first time in the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season.

In other boys' high school basketball games played in the Mountain Schoolboy Classic it was Belfry 81, Magoffin County 71 in overtime and Shelby Valley 68, Prestonsburg 43.