Knights shoot 65 percent to blister Potosi

PARK HILLS — Four separate players reached double figures in scoring prior to halftime, and top-seeded Farmington shot a sizzling 65 percent overall to rout Potosi 99-41 in Tuesday’s MAAA Tournament quarterfinal round.

Senior center Jonathon Bird compiled 22 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Knights (14-5), who easily advanced to face Valle Catholic on Friday night after connecting 10 times from beyond the arc.

Tim Anderson, Pete Grindel and Roper Garrett added 14 points each in the victory, as Farmington often moved the basketball with precision to create open shots while also creating transition baskets off turnovers.

Consecutive steals by Grindel and Anderson helped the Knights score seven straight points without letting Potosi cross the midcourt stripe, and Bird’s leaping tip produced a 24-7 margin late in the first quarter.

Dylan Eye answered with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, but his 22 points were the only consistent offense for the Trojans (5-14), who dropped into the fifth-place bracket to face Arcadia Valley on Thursday.

Grindel’s fourth triple gave Farmington a 56-23 halftime lead, and Bird’s breakaway dunk quickly extended it to 71-28 after Anderson recorded his game-high fifth steal.

Kyle Warren and Chase Busenbark chipped in six points apiece in the fourth quarter, and Mike Turner grabbed five rebounds as Farmington posted a 32-8 differential in bench scoring.

Potosi converted 14-of-20 free throw attempts but yielded 15 unanswered points to complete the action. Kevin Bach had seven points for the Trojans.

Potosi  13  10  14   4 – 41

Farmington – Jonathon Bird 22, Tim Anderson 14, Pete Grindel 14, Roper Garrett 14, Kyle Warren 6, Chase Busenbark 6, Connor Eaton 5, Mike Turner 5, Monis Zereik 4, Doug Warren 3, Colby Yordy 3, Josh Brown 3. 3-point FG – Grindel 4, Anderson, D Warren, Turner, K Warren, Yordy, Brown.