Caleb Riordan | Ameritime Sports Writer
The South Iron Panthers powered past the Ellington Knights on Tuesday night 94 to 35. This is the second time this season the Panthers beat Ellington.
South Iron jumped out in front quickly and set the tone in the first quarter. This has become a theme throughout their first four games. They took a 30 to 2 lead into the second quarter. Ellington found some success in the second and had a 20 point quarter. However, South Iron still outscored them 26 to 20 and took a 56 to 22 lead into the second half.
“I thought we really did a good job of setting the tone early through our defensive energy,” head coach Dusty Dinkins said. “We did a good job of pressuring the basketball and not giving up easy baskets.”
The third quarter was similar to the first as The Panthers were locked in defensively and scored at will. They had a 50 point lead by the end of the quarter. The Knights’ fates were sealed in the fourth when the Panthers outscored them again and secured the 94 to 35 victory to move to 4-0.
The Panthers’ defensive energy was one of the biggest factors in their dominant victory.
“We did a good job of disrupting their flow and getting in the passing lanes,” Drenin Dinkins said. “Which led to steals and transition buckets.”
Brock Wakefield scored a team-high 22 points. He also had nine rebounds and six assists. DJ Prater was just behind Wakefield with 20 points. He had nine rebounds and shot 9 for 10 from the floor. Lucas Lunyou and Jermarco Burse were the other two Panthers who scored in double-figures. Burse had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He also added two blocks. Lunyou had his fingerprints all over this one. He had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Wakefield confirmed the team’s defensive prowess was one of the deciding factors for the Knights’ fate.
“I would say our defensive pressure was the biggest strength in the game,” he said. “It led to easy buckets on the offensive end.”
South Iron is 4-0 and won all of their games by an average of 58 points. The next challenge presented to the Panthers is Helias Catholic. That game will take place Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 pm.
