Max Everaert poured in 22 points, including five 3-pointers, and Andrew Birky nabbed 17 rebounds as Times No. 9 Kouts held off host Boone Grove, 55-51, in a Porter County Conference tournament semifinal Saturday.
In the other semifinal, Hanover Central, playing in its final PCC tourney before its move to the Greater South Shore Conference next season, held off Washington Township, 52-45, behind 19 points and 11 rebounds by Max Johnson.
The Mustangs (13-1) led by 14 (49-35) midway through the fourth, but missed nine free throws in the quarter to aid a Wolves comeback. The win was Kouts' sixth in a row.
Dean Hill's 15 points, five assists and four steals led the Wolves (8-4), who also got 12 points from Jake Clapp and 11 from Daniel Malouhos.
Cody Nelson, Nick Taylor (seven assists) and Matt Stewart (seven rebounds) all chipped in nine points for Kouts, while Birky also came up with four steals.
Hanover (8-6) extended Washington's PCC tourney title drought to 90 years. The Senators (8-6) were paced by Brandon Adkins, who made all 12 of his points on four 3-point field goals to go with five assists. Bobby Ross contributed 11 points and seven boards for W.T.
The Wildcats, a 59-51 winner over the Senators on Dec. 7, had no one other than Johnson score in double figures. Sean Kelly posted nine points and Brandon Sears eight in addition to six rebounds.
Kouts and Hanover met in the 2011 championship, won by the Mustangs. The Wildcats captured the title in 2010.
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