Despite being down to eight players due to illness and missing their three senior starters, the Pineville Mountain Lions overcame adversity to win 83-51 over Rye Cove in the Lawson Kubota Classic hosted by Thomas Walker High School.
Pineville (3-1) used a suffocating team defense and big scoring nights from Sawyer Thompson and Ashton Moser to come out with the victory.
Thompson had 35 points and Moser scored 29 to lead the Pineville attack. Seventh grade guards Noah Slone and Owen Jones had eight and six points respectively. Kaiden Robbins had four and Preston Zachery added two.
Rye Cove was led by Carter Roach-Hodges 17 points. Luke Jesse had 14.
The Lions won the first three quarters 25-10, 20-10, and 28-15. The Eagles outscored the Lions 16-10 in the final stanza.
Pineville returns to play next Friday night against Whitley County in Williamsburg at 7:30 pm.
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Pineville (83) — Sawyer Thompson 35, Ashton Moser 29, Kaiden Robbins 4, Noah Slone 8, Preston Zachery 2, Owen Jones 6.
Rye Cove (51) — Logan Burnette 2, Jacob Jesse 5, Landon Lowe 2, Kaden Chavez 3, Luke Jesse 14, Carter Roach-Hodge 17, Jay Bowen 4, Trevor Darnell 4.

Pineville 25 20 28 10 — 83
Rye Cove 10 10 15 16 — 51