If anyone was hoping the preseason 2nd Region boys basketball favorites might come out of the gate slow Tuesday night, they were disappointed. The Madisonville Maroons used a big second quarter effort to come back from an early deficit and pick up an impressive opening night 69-61 home court win over Bowling Green.
Early on, it looked like the Purples might have a shot at the upset on the Maroons home court. Bowling Green ended the opening quarter with a 17-11 lead. The margin might have been bigger if not for a strong start for Ksuan Casey, who had eight points in the first.
The Maroons then exerted their will in the second quarter. Madisonville outscored Bowling Green 21-8 in the quarter to go into the locker room with a 32-25 lead. The Maroon “twin towers” were huge in the first half. Ksuan Casey scored 15 points, while Kenny White added 12 in the first half.
Madisonville looked as if it were ready to blow the game open in the third quarter, extending the lead to sixteen points at 45-29. The Purples made their move to get back in the game, cutting the lead to 53-44 at the end of the quarter.
Bowling Green would get as close as 57-54 with 5:30 to go in the game. However, the Maroons were able to fight their way through to the finish and hold on for the eight point win.
Kenny White finished the night with 25 points to lead Madisonville. Fellow big man Ksuan Casey added 23.
The Maroons return to action Friday night in a highly anticipated matchup with Marshall County at the Marshall County Hoopfest.