Corbin 60,Knox Central 54

Mills Leads Corbin Past Knox Central, 60–54

Corbin needed a win, and with the game on the line at Gilliam Gym, the Redhounds found a way to get one.

Isaiah Mills finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots, while Johnny B. Hammons added 16 points and five assists as Corbin rallied past Knox Central 60–54. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and gave a loud home crowd a finish worth standing for.

After struggling at the foul line in the first half, the Redhounds made their free throws when they mattered most. Jeremy Farmer, Mills and Brad Mason combined to hit seven of eight attempts over the final 90 seconds to secure the victory.

“The difference in tonight’s game and games in the past is we found a way to pull out a win,” Corbin coach Tony Pietrowski said. “That’s part of being a team, kids stepping up and doing certain things just to pull out a win.”

Knox Central made Corbin work for it from the beginning.

The Panthers opened with an 11–3 run before baskets from Farmer and Hammons helped bring the Redhounds back. Mills scored inside with 4:25 remaining in the opening quarter to trim the deficit to one, establishing a presence Knox Central would struggle to contain throughout the night.

The teams traded baskets through the rest of the period, with the Panthers holding a 22–21 lead after one quarter.

Corbin’s offense then stalled.

The Redhounds went nearly the entire second quarter without a field goal, allowing Knox Central to build a 33–23 lead with 2:02 remaining before halftime. Missed opportunities at the foul line added to the trouble, as Corbin made just five of 13 free throws in the first half.

But the Redhounds kept the deficit from growing by holding Knox Central scoreless for the remainder of the half.

Hammons finally ended the field goal drought with a three-pointer with 45 seconds left. He followed with a drive to the basket, helping Corbin reach halftime trailing just 33–29.

Pietrowski felt the Redhounds had drifted away from their inside game during the second quarter. After the break, they returned to Mills.

The Corbin big man became the center of the offense, scoring around the basket and drawing defenders away from his teammates.

“When they throw it in to me it brings the defense toward me and I can just kick it back to the guards and that gives them more open shots,” Mills said.

Knox Central coach Brandon Elam acknowledged that his team struggled to match up with Mills, with foul trouble adding to the Panthers’ difficulties as the game progressed.

Corbin erased the halftime deficit, and the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 43.

The Panthers moved ahead again, taking a 49–45 lead. With 5:10 remaining, Mills picked up his third foul on a call against Brandon West, but West missed both free throws, leaving the Redhounds within reach.

Hammons delivered the basket that finally put Corbin ahead for good. His layup with 2:02 remaining gave the Redhounds a 53–52 lead.

Knox Central stayed close. Kris Mills hit a floater with 20.6 seconds left to cut Corbin’s advantage to two, but the Redhounds answered at the foul line.

After their difficult first half, Corbin made 13 of 18 free throws after the break. The closing stretch from Farmer, Mills and Mason ensured that the comeback would hold.

Kyle Stacy led Knox Central with 15 points, while Joe Brown scored 13.

For Corbin, the difference was in the finish. The Redhounds weathered an early deficit, survived a cold second quarter and made the plays that had been missing during their losing streak.

Game Statistics

• Final: Corbin 60, Knox Central 54
• First quarter: Knox Central led 22–21
• Halftime: Knox Central led 33–29
• Third quarter: Tied 43–43
• Isaiah Mills: 24 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots
• Johnny B. Hammons: 16 points and five assists
• Knox Central scoring leaders: Kyle Stacy 15, Joe Brown 13
• Corbin free throws: 18 of 31 overall, including 13 of 18 in the second half
• Closing free throws: Farmer, Mills and Brad Mason combined to make seven of eight in the final 90 seconds
• Go-ahead basket: Hammons’ layup with 2:02 remaining put Corbin ahead 53–52