The Henryetta Knights struggled to rally their offense against the No. 4 Class 3A Beggs Demons Tuesday night in a county matchup. Despite earning a small lead minutes into the first quarter, the Knights failed to keep their offense organized and fell to the Demons plethora of shooters they currently have on their bench. Henryetta senior Jean Pixler, sophomore Alex Hudson and freshman Jordan Short were the only Knights to break through and match the Demons’ top scorers. All three Knights broke into double digits with Hudson leading his team with 12 points, which included three 2’s and two 3’s. Short and Pixler both earned a total of 11 points.

Keeping close the Knights only had a two-point deficit in the first quarter, however, they fell in the second half to the Demons in a 70-47 battle. The Demons are still holding onto the No. 4 spot with a 21-1 season record. The 23-point loss puts the Knights regular season record at 5-15 before Class 3A District Tournaments start tonight.

Hudson and Pixler led a small scoring streak at the start of the first quarter. They made it to the basket for consecutive 2-pointers, earning the Knights an uncontested 4-0 lead. Beggs was slow to compose their shooters with junior Kameron Whiteley putting the Demons on the scoreboard from the free-throw line, 4-1. Short hit a 3-pointer to put the Knights further ahead, 7-1, but the Demons kickstarted their offenses and overthrew the Knights’ earlier attacks. Beggs junior Kendal Daniels sunk a pair of 2’s one after the other, while Gaines scored a 2-point shot to tie the game 7-7.

After the tie, the Demons locked down the court and busted out a 15-13 advantage. Pixler was able to keep the Knights close with a last minute pair of 3’s, but they still faced a 2-point Demon lead.

In the second quarter, the Knights ran into their first scoring slump of the game, while their opponents obtained a 25-point boost. Daniels had scored four 2’s in the first quarter and revved up his offense with another four in the second. Beggs senior Dusty Pendergrass was right behind him and also earned four 2’s. With some of their most experienced shooters on the court, the Demons overpowered the Knights, who posted up for nine points. Hudson led the single-digit scoring streak with a 2-pointer and a 3-point bucket. Struggling to find an opening and a clear shot on the 3-point line, Pixler was only able to sink a layup. The Knights ended the first half with a pair of free throws from Short, putting them behind the Demons, 40-22.

The Knights faced their first extensive Demon lead going into the third quarter. Down by 18 points, the Knights failed to rally and sunk into another scoring slump with eight points. Short was sent to the free throw line once again and sunk two of three shots. The Demons blocked most of the Knights advances to the basket with Hudson scoring the only 2-pointer. Henryetta sophomore Ethan Palmer earned his first 3-pointer and Pixler earned a free throw shot.

Eight points wasn’t enough to match the Demons’ 19-point boost. Hitting the basket hard, the Demons acquired seven 2’s and one 3-pointer from senior Domonic Arrigo.

Facing a 59-30 deficit, the Knights led a 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter. Short was at the helm of the scoring barrage with help from sophomore Dalton Pemberton. Making it to the basket for back-to-back 2-pointers, Short kickstarted the Knights’ revival, while Pemberton took over the reigns later in the quarter. Pemberton scored a 2-pointer and made it to the top of the key for a 3-pointer.

Hudson also sunk his second 3-pointer, while sophomore Riley Pixler hit his first 2-pointer.

All that protected the Demons was their earlier 29-point lead. Beggs scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter. The Knights diminished their lead but couldn’t overturn it, resulting in a 70-47 loss.

The Knights also fell to the Morris Eagles on Monday in a four-point defeat. They had defeated the Eagles earlier in the season in an overtime battle and almost mustered the same offensive strength Monday, but eventually suffered a 50-46 loss.

The Knights are now 5-15 and are scheduled to travel to Del City to face the Christian Heritage Crusaders tonight in Districts.