The Kennett boys basketball team honored three seniors who have fought resiliently through a difficult season on Thursday, according to head coach Fred Garmon, but the Indians' late comeback against Doniphan wasn't enough for a win as the Dons came out on top 70-64.

For Kennett seniors Chris Jefferson, Hunter Kirk and Ashton Williams it was the last outing on their home court, and for the occasion they put up a combined 34 points. While three Kennett players managed double digit scoring, the Indians overall were led by sophomore Ty Jones with 17 at the end of the night.

“I appreciate those seniors for sure,” Kennett coach Fred Garmon said. “There have been a lot of things to happen this year, and they could have easily run like some chumps, but they decided to stick it out for themselves, their teammates and their coaches. They're forever my favorite, and I love them to death for finishing with me.”

Williams opened the game with a 3-pointer that Doniphan followed up with a six-point run. He sank another to keep pace and tie 6-6, however. By the end of the first quarter six Dons had made it into the scoring column and the visitors led 17-13.

Doniphan's Emmitt Jones kicked off an opening run in the second quarter that concluded with Corey Hagood sinking a 3-pointer causing Garmon to call a quick timeout as the Dons extended the lead 24-13. For Kennett, Kade Anderson and Ty Jones each hit 3-pointers to pull the score back within seven points. Isaac Rawlings for Doniphan got back-to-back layups, the second capitalizing on an errant Indian pass, and Tyler Lowery scored a triple of his own to end the first half with the Dons comfortably up 37-23.

In a fight to dig out of the deficit, Kennett fought on and flipped the script in the third quarter, however.

Kennett sophomore Ty Jones (1) watches the ball fly as he shoots a 3-pointer in Thursday night's game against Doniphan. Photo by Christian Johnson

“It was as simple as asking, 'What are you going to do about it? You're the ones on the court, and this may be the last time you play on this floor, so what are you going to do about it?,'” Garmon described of the Indians' halftime pep talk. “They took it to heart, and we may have been without our best player – hopefully he'll be back next week – but they took it to heart and they played hard.”

Kennett outscored Doniphan 24-13 in the third quarter with offensive efforts of six players, even without the team's offensive powerhouse, Ashton Dismukes, in the game Thursday. The Indians forced the Dons into foul trouble and shot a combined 10-for-12 from the free throw line with some timely field goals along the way.

Capping off the home team's rally, Kade Anderson shot for two to tie the ballgame 43-all, and Ashton Williams sank another 3-pointer to take the team's first lead since the beginning of the game. Rawlings sank one as well shortly after to retake and Lane Allen concluded the third with a layup for the Dons to maintain a narrow lead at 50-47.

“They played hard,” Garmon said. “I really believe they gave everything they had tonight, but obviously it wasn't enough. We gave up 70 points, and that's not going to help you win a ball game.”

At first matching one another bucket for bucket, Doniphans' Lowery and Hagood each hit 3-pointers early and the Dons managed to widen the margin to six at a timeout, then nearly ten points at another. The Indians attempted a full court press that led to Doniphan taking five trips to the charity stripe. Ty Jones scored one final triple for Kennett, cutting the deficit to just five points with 15 second left, but another Doniphan free throw and the Indians' comeback hopes were over.

Kennett's Chris Jefferson (22) gets blocked out by Doniphan defenders Thursday, Feb. 22.Photo by Christian Johnson

After Jones' 17 points, for Kennett Chris Jefferson scored 14, Ashton Williams scored 11, Antonio Flakes and Hunter Kirk both scored nine, and Kade Anderson added five.

“We'll show back up Sunday and Monday and try to find a way to beat Perryville,” Garmon said. “It's been our mentality all year long, next play, next game. It's a brand new season next week, everyone's 0-0, so anything can happen when the ball tosses up.”

Emmitt Jones led Doniphan with a total of 18 points, Corey Hagood followed with 14, Isaac Rawlings and Lane Allen each scored 12, and Luke Emmons and Tyler Lowery each added six to the total.

Both teams will contend for the Class 4 District 1 crown next week in Ste. Genevieve. Kennett drew the No. 3 seed and first faces sixth-seeded Perryville Tuesday at 7 p.m. Doniphan, the No. 5 seed, faces fourth-seeded Fredericktown at 5 p.m.