Delayed three weeks after inclement weather postponed the initial meeting, the crowds were out in droves for both teams in this edition of the Backyard Brawl. Early on, the fans were witness to both teams’ offenses going front and center.

Eisenhower’s Austin Hanson and Gavin Lindemuth scored 5 points in the opening 30 seconds of the contest before a barrage of Youngsville 3-pointers, including two from Carson Chase and one from Rylan Benton gave the hosts an early 9-5 advantage.

The Knights (15-4, 7-2 Region 3) responded in kind, using a quick 9-0 run to carve out a five-point edge. Chase’s third 3-pointer of the opening eight minutes would get the Eagles (8-12, 3-7 Region 3) within two at 16-14 before another quick Eisenhower 7-0 spurt forced an Eagles full timeout with 1:36 left in the quarter.

Before it was over, the Knights would score 27 points and open up a 10-point lead after one.

Youngsville’s Ethan Beers saves the ball from going out of bounds during boys basketball action Wednesday at Youngsville High School. Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger

Things cooled off in the second quarter with both clubs combining for just 14 points. The Knights scored 10 of those points and led 37-21 as the game went to intermission.

The Eagles came to life early in the third as 3-point baskets by Benton and Nathan Lucks cut the Ike lead to 39-27 and forced a timeout from Eisenhower with 5:12 remaining. Again, the Knights responded as Casey Seymour and Maysen Wonderling hit shots nearly immediately out of the timeout, promptly pushing the lead back to 18.

The teams mostly traded buckets the rest of the third and the Knights held a 48-32 lead heading to the final quarter.

There, Youngsville tried to make one last push, getting as close as 11 after a nice hoop from Ethan Beers with four minutes remaining. But, moments later, the Knights’ Kyler Black and Hanson delivered Eisenhower’s first points of the quarter and the Youngsville run was stifled.

A 9-0 Knights run was highlighted by a pair of baskets from senior Kris Bunk and Eisenhower cruised to the finish line.

Black paced the Knights with a team-high 14 points. Joining him in double figures were Wonderling, who finished with 13 points, and Seymour, who added 10. Chase led the Eagles with 14 points, Benton added 12 and Beers and Lucks had 9 and 7 points respectively.

Youngsville was a 29-17 winner in junior varsity action. Braydon Baker led the winners with 13 points while Derek Guiher paced the Knights with 8 points.

The Knights are back in action Friday when they travel to Cochranton. Youngsville’s next game is also against Cochranton at home on Feb. 13 before finishing the season at Eisenhower on Feb.16.

EISENHOWER (61)

Black 5 3-4 14, Wonderling 4 2-2 13, Bunk 4 0-0 9, Seymour 3 3-4 10, Hanson 3 0-0 7, Guiher 0 0-0 0, Lindemuth 3 2-4 8, Totals 22 10-14 61

YOUNGSVILLE (42)

Chase 5 0-0 14, Lucks 3 0-0 7, Beers 4 1-4 9, Benton 4 0-0 12, CMoore 0 0-0 0, Pikna 0 0-0 0, Haight 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 0-0 0, Rowland 0 0-0 0, Totals 16 1-4 42

Eisenhower 27 10 11 13 — 61

Youngsville 17 4 11 10 — 42

3-pointers: E- Wonderling 3, Black, Bunk, Seymour, Hanson; Y- Chase 4, Benton 4, Lucks

Junior varsity game

EISENHOWER (17): Gavin Reynolds 1 0-0 3, Michael Palmieri 0 0-0 0, Drew Mandeville 0 0-0 0, Jaydon Chase 1 0-0 2, Derek Guiher 2 3-3 8, Joseph Gigliotti 1 0-0 2, Carson Sobkowski 1 0-0 2, Totals: 6 3-3 17

YOUNGSVILLE (29): Rodney Rowland 2 0-0 4, Josh Pikna 2 1-4 5, Ollie Boozer 0 0-2 0, Hudson Haight 3 1-1 7, Austin Connor 0 0-0 0, Chris Edwards 0 0-0 0, Braydon Baker 5 0-0 13, Totals: 12 2-7 29

Eisenhower 5 2 5 5 – 17

Youngsville 8 5 4 12 – 29

3-pointers: E- Reynolds, Guiher; Y- Baker 3