Boys Basketball: Evereart powers Mustangs to win

Updated: November 25, 2011 10:14PM

KOUTS — The long standing rivalry between Kouts and Hebron has typically drawn big crowds and Friday night was no different as the gymnasium at Kouts was packed for Kouts’ 53-41 win over Hebron in Porter County Conference boys basketball.

Among the crowd was virtually all the other PCC coaches, interested to see the outcome.

“It’s an exciting game for both teams and both communities and there is a good chance that both teams will be competing for the conference title. So for us to come out with the win in a game that wasn’t pretty, but played hard by both teams, is a positive and we’ll take the win,” Kouts coach Marty Gaff said.

Kouts struggled early as did Hebron, but it was Kouts grabbing a 9-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, a lead the Mustangs would not relinquish the rest of the night.

Kouts (2-0, 1-0 PCC) settled things down in the second and was led by the shooting of Max Evereart, who found his mark from the 3-point line and showed his presence in the middle.

Evereart led all scorers with 21 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers. The Mustangs’ sixth man was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.

“I don’t mind not starting at all,” Evereart said. “It gives me a chance to see how things are being played by our opponent and I come in and do what I need to do to help the team.”

 Hebron (1-1, 0-1 PCC), came out strong in the third period on the shooting of big man Cody Artuso. But foul trouble sent him to the bench and Evereart took charge in the quarter to secure the Kouts lead for good.

The Mustangs maintained their lead during a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

The Hawks had solid performances from Artuso and Damon Wallace as the duo led their team with 17 points each in the loss.

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