The Pineville Mountain Lions added another chapter to a 2025 season that will go down as one of the best in school history with a 76-71 win over Knox Central in the finals of the 51st District Tournament at Barbourville High School.
The championship was the first for the Mountain Lions since 2007 and only the second since 1994 and fifth overall.
Senior guard Ashton Moser scored 21 points to lead the Lions. Sawyer Thompson and Jeremiah Beck chipped in with 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Freshman guard Grayson Burton led the 22-7 Panthers with 21 points,. Evan Hubbard and Evan Taylor added 14 and 12, points respectively.
Knox Central had won the last eight 51st District titles and 15 of the last 16.
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Pineville advanced to the finals with a hard-fought 78-63 win over Barbourville in the semifinals on Wednesday.
The game was close throughout with the Mountain Lions taking a 52-48 edge into the fourth quarter. Pineville outscored the Tigers 26-15 in the fourth quarter while moving on to a 51st District Tournament title game matchup against Knox Central.
Sawyer Thompson led the Mountain Lions with 26 points while Jeremiah Beck had 15 points. Cam Puckett added 13 points. Ashton Moser scored 10.
Jasper Hubbs led Barbourville with 19 points, Riley Corey scored 18.
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Pineville (76) — Sawyer Thompson 19, Ashton Moser 21, Jeremiah Beck 16, Cameron Puckett 7, Sebastian Kyle 4, Zander Garrison 0, Preston Zachery 0, Kaiden Robbins 9.
Knox Central (71) — Grayson Burton 21, Evan Hubbard 14, Evan Taylor 12, Hayden Melton 8, Tydus Summers 7, Austin Bargo 5, Christian Bargo 2, Nathan Dunn 2.
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Pineville (78) — Sawyer Thompson 26, Jeremiah Beck 15, Cameron Puckett 13, Ashton Moser 10, Kaiden Robbins 8, Zander Garrison 4, Preston Zachery 2.
Barbourville (63) — Jasper Hubbs 19, Riley Corey 18, (other scoring information unavailable).