By Shane Shackleford
Sports Writer

Featuring a high-octane and balanced scoring attack, the Pineville Mountain Lions defeated the Jackson County Generals 85-66 Tuesday night and the Whitley County Colonels 86-75 Friday night in the Lions Den.
In the early matchup, the Lions were never threatened, outscoring the Generals every quarter on the way to their 16th victory.
Each of the five Pineville starters scored in double figures against Jackson, led by senior guard Jerry Beck’s 22 points. Ashton Moser and Kaiden Robbins each added 18, while Sawyer Thompson and Cam Puckett scored 13 each. Eighth-grade guard Noah Slone tossed in two.
Combs led the Generals with 20 points. Ward added 18 points.
On Friday night, the Lions offense clicked on all cylinders again against the Colonels in a regional tournament-like atmosphere.
Pineville placed four starters in double figures to earn the win. Thompson poured in 28 points to lead the charge. Beck tossed in 20, while Moser added 17. Robbins added 10. The Lions also got points from Sebastian Kyle with six, Puckett with three, and Jack Smith with two.
Whitley was paced by Henry Bowling with 24 points. Bryson Mahan added 18.
Pineville travels to Harlan on Tuesday night. Tip is set at 7:30 p.m.
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The Pineville junior varsity improved to 10-0 on the season with victories over Jackson County 50-36 and Whitley County 61-51.
Noah Slone poured in 21 points to lead the Lions’ attack against Jackson. Brady Hatmaker added eight. Jacob Hartmann scored seven, Anderson Gentry six, Jared Storms five, and Sebastian Kyle three.
Combs scored 11 to lead the Generals.
Kyle had 16 to lead the Lions against the Colonels. Gentry had 15, while Slone added eight.
Hatmaker tallied seven, Hartmann six, Brody Fugate five, and Ethan Jackson four for the Lions.
Cureton led the Colonels with 18 points and Petrey added 16 points.