Panthers host Ranked Dierks

TILLERY LEADS PANTHER TRIO IN DOUBLE-DIGITS, FALL TO UNBEATEN TOP-RANKED OUTLAWS, 53-40

MAGNET COVE — Tuesday in Panther Country, the Magnet Cove Panthers welcomed a top-ranked opponent to the Magnet Cove Gymnasium in a conference showdown to tip-off the new year for basketball competition.

The No. 3 ranked and undefeated Dierks Outlaws (120) topped the Panthers 53-40 in the first of their two league series match-up.

The Outlaws are one of the top ranked teams in the state for Class 2A—currently the No. 3 overall top team in the Arkansas Sports Media High School Boys Poll. Magnet Cove’s senior hoopster Owen Tillery led the Panthers with a productive 12 points on the night.

Also Panthers’ Evin Ashcraft and big man Kadin Baker finished with 10 points each to produce a trio of double-figures against the Outlaws.

The Panthers hung tough early with only a three-point deficit at the end of the opening period, 18-15.

The Outlaws went on a run in the second to outscore the Panthers 19-11. At the break, Dierks headed to the locker room with a 37-24 lead over Magnet Cove.

In the second half, the Panthers cut their margin and trailed under double-digits 44-35 at the end of the third. In the fourth, Dierks’ defense held the Panthers to only five points while the ranked Outlaws added nine points despite being held under double-digit scoring in the final period of the night.

For the game, Panthers’ Jace Beckwith finished with six points and Kizer Kidder chipped in two points.

For the Outlaws, Andrew Mack led all scorers with a dynamic 25 points and nailed three triples beyond the arc. Andrew Hill followed with 17 points with a triple to lead Dierks.

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The Panthers will hit the road Friday to face Murfreesboro in conference hoops.