The Adair County Indians pulled off an 82-76 overtime victory over Marion County in a thrilling first-round matchup of the 20th District Tournament on Wednesday night. With the win, Adair County has officially punched their ticket to the 5th Region Tournament and will face Taylor County for the fourth time this season in the district championship game.
It was a tightly contested battle, with five lead changes and the game tied five times before Adair County pulled away in overtime. The Indians strung together their longest scoring streak of 14 points, holding off Marion County’s late surge.
Dawson Gilbert led the Indians with a spectacular 34 points, shooting 70.6% from the field and adding 5 rebounds. Landon Blakey was a force on both ends, posting 19 points and an impressive 18 rebounds (8 offensive), while John Sheehan contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds. Tylin George added 10 points and 5 rebounds, and Samuel Feese chipped in key minutes with 2 rebounds and 3 points.
Marion County fought hard, led by Gabriel Washington, who scored 27 points on 81.8% shooting and grabbed 3 rebounds. Jaiden Newby added 22 points, while Eli Washington put up 15 points, but the Indians’ balanced attack and clutch free-throw shooting ultimately made the difference.
The Indians now turn their attention to the 20th District Championship game against Taylor County, aiming to cap off a memorable season with a district title. With the victory, Adair County has already secured a spot in the 5th Region Tournament, giving fans plenty to celebrate.