Boys basketball: Second half surge keeps Knights unbeaten

OAKWOOD -- Johnson used a huge second half to rally past arch-rival Friday night to stay unbeaten on the season in boys basketball action.

The Knights trailed 19-9 after the first quarter and 30-25 at halftime. But they grabbed the lead in the third quarter and went on a 33-9 fourth quarter run to pull away for a 72-54 win at the West Hall gym.

The win improved Johnson to 8-0, its best start to a season in more than a decade.

Johnson was led by Roderick English with 29 points and seven rebounds. Ty Cockfield added 16 points and Montrell McKenzie had his eighth consecutive double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Knights.

West Hall was led by Hunter Atkinson with 14 points. Ty Cantrell had 13 points and Deandre Peoples with 10 for the Spartans.

Johnson next will travel to Jefferson on Tuesday while West Hall takes on Region 7-AAA foe White County on Tuesday.