Kennett upsets hobbled Mules

The Poplar Bluff Mules boys basketball team failed to build on the momentum of a weekend victory over Dyersburg as the Mules fell to the Kennett Indians 72-65 on Tuesday night at Mules Gymnasium.

However, looming larger for the Mules is a potentially bigger loss, as sophomore Sammy Durden was unable to play due to a pregame injury, while his brother, Brendan Durden, went out of the game with his own injury late in the fourth quarter.

The game was evenly matched throughout, but the loss of Sammy Durden affected the Mules’ ability to run their offense as they usually do, and they struggled to find consistency on offense.

Kennett played much better than its record might have indicated, and the Indians led for most of the game. In those moments when Poplar Bluff managed to cut into the Indians’ lead, they always found a way to pull away, especially at the end of the game.

“(Sammy’s loss) hurt us more defensively than offensively,” said Mules coach Will Durden. “We didn’t guard well tonight, and as well as we guarded the other night was as bad as we did tonight.

“We have to learn from it and just come out a play better defense.”

Coach Durden had no information on the extent of the injuries to either Sammy or Brendan.

Poplar Bluff’s leading scorer was Brendan Durden with 20 points, while Kennett was led on the scoreboard by Dyson Watson with a game-high 23 points. Two other Indians also tallied double figures, Hayden Gilmore with 19 points and Ty Jones with 16.

Poplar Bluff’s record fell to 8-10, while Kennett improved to 6-11 on the season.

The Mules scored first with a 3-pointer from Dallas Williams to open the game, but Kennett responded with two threes of their own to take a 6-3 lead two minutes into the first quarter.

The game was tied at 8 when the Mules went on a five-point run to hold a 13-8 lead with three minutes left in the first.

Poplar Bluff’s defense left the baseline open for the Indians to come back, with the visitors nailing another 3-pointer to lead 17-16 at the end of the quarter.

The Indians opened the second quarter with back-to-back triples to lead 23-16, but the Mules’ defense tightened up to draw within one point at 5:19 in the second.

Jay Edmundson hit two free throws to give the Mules a 27-26 lead with 3:30 left in the half. Both teams traded 3s, but then the Mules’ shooting went cold. The Indians took advantage on offense and led 39-36 going into halftime.

The third quarter was much more of a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to hit from the field. Kennett gained much of its scoring at the free-throw line, as the Mules put Kennett in the bonus with 2:40 left in the third.

Edmundson hit a layup to tie the score at 49 with 1:40 remaining in the period, but Kennett hit its next two layups. Poplar Bluff’s Justin Briscoe put in a jump shot to make the score 53-51 Indians at the end of three.

Kennett opened the fourth with another 4-0 run, but Brendan Durden hit a layup and a free throw to bring Poplar Bluff back within three points. However, the Indians responded with a 3-pointer to drive their lead to 60-54.

The Mules drew within two at 60-58 but missed on their next three possession attempts to tie the score as the game clock counted down to three minutes remaining in the game. It was Edmundson who finally broke through with a steal and a breakaway layup to tie it at 60.

Kennett led 66-63 with one minute left to play and possession of the ball. With both teams in the foul bonus at this point, free throws became critical. Kennett missed two free throws, and Brendan Durden went coast-to-coast with a layup to bring the Mules within one point at 66-65 with 45 seconds left.

Watson hit his next two free throws for the Indians, and after a Mules turnover, his layup gave Kennett a 70-65 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

On that same play, Brendan Durden also injured his lower leg, and he required assistance to get off the court.

The Mules’ attempts to hit 3-pointers fell short as time expired, and Kennett left Poplar Bluff with a hard-fought road win.