PIKEVILLE — The second night of the Pikeville Invitational Tournament lived up to its billing as the hometown Pikeville Panthers squared off against the Pendleton County Wildcats in what shaped up to be a compelling matchup between two teams coming off impressive opening-round victories.
Pendleton County entered the contest fresh off a big win over Hazard, while Pikeville looked to build momentum following its victory against Rowan County. The early action suggested a tightly contested battle — and that’s exactly what fans received.
The first half was a tale of two quarters. Pikeville set the tone early, jumping out to a 10–2 advantage by the end of the opening quarter behind strong defensive pressure. Pendleton County responded in the second quarter, flipping the script with a 14–4 run to seize a 16–14 lead at halftime.
Offenses came alive after the break. Pikeville erupted for 23 points in the third quarter, sparked by senior Jackson Keene, who poured in 13 points during the frame. Pendleton County kept pace, scoring 18 points of its own to stay within striking distance, trailing just 37–34 heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Pikeville’s balanced offensive attack proved too much for the Wildcats. The Panthers outscored Pendleton County 20–10 over the final eight minutes, pulling away for a decisive 57–44 victory.
Keene led all scorers with 21 points, knocking down three three-point shots and providing steady leadership throughout the game. His standout performance earned him Surplus Products Player of the Game honors.
Box Score
Pendleton County Wildcats vs. Pikeville Panthers
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pendleton County | 2 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 44 |
| Pikeville | 10 | 4 | 23 | 20 | 57 |
Individual Scoring
Pendleton County – Grayson Nelson (15), Kamden O’Hara (11), Dawson Nicholas (10), Hunter Keeton (3), Parker McCandless (3)
Pikeville – Jackson Keene (21), Carter Parsons (15), Cole Slone (8), Mark Bowling (6), Grayson Reed (5), Grant Hall (2)
The win moves the Panthers to 6-0 on the season and sets up a matchup tomorrow with 16th Region powerhouse and undefeated Ashland. Game time will be 7:00 PM.
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