St. Xavier spoiled the party, or at least turned the lights out early, on Jon Hood's star turn Friday night in the Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic.
Hood, Madisonville's senior star and a University of Kentucky signee, had 18 points, 12 rebounds and two assists, but St. X beat the Maroons 56-48.
St. X rallied from nine down in the third quarter and never trailed after taking a 46-43 lead on Brian Gunter's three-point play with 5:21 left.
Gunter finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. St. X was led in scoring by Patrick Butcher with 17 points.
St. X scouted Madisonville's three losses in the King of the Bluegrass last week, and Tigers Coach Kevin Klein said that was "definitely an advantage.
"This was a good win for us against a very good team and the best player in the state of Kentucky."
St. X made the 6-foot-7 Hood labor to get open looks. It showed. Hood was 6-for-20 from the field, including 3-for-12 in the second half.
"It was a great team effort on Hood," Klein said. "We made him take a lot of tough shots. Everything he got he earned."
Hood, who came into the game averaging 30 points, said his performance "could've been a lot better."
The last time Hood played in Lexington was when he hooped it up with UK players in pick-up games at Memorial Coliseum during the summer.
He said playing in Lexington again, after having signed with UK, didn't burden him with extra pressure.
"I block all that stuff out," he said. "You have to. If you don't you lose your focus."
Madisonville Coach Marty Cline said Hood is unaffected by the buzz he creates wherever he plays.
"It's not an issue," Cline said. "You guys have a job to follow his story line, but at the same time he does a good job just being another high school basketball player."
Hood is Madisonville's only veteran, so Cline expected the team to struggle at times early this season.
"We've got a long way to go," he said. "But the good news is we're just trying to take baby steps right now. We're going to get better."
Still, he bemoaned the way his Maroons played after they took a 38-29 lead and had the ball late in the third quarter.
"We've got to do more positive things when we get in situations like that," he said.
"We've got to play with more intelligence."
Robert Hatchett had 15 points and eight rebounds for Madisonville, which shot only 33 percent.
The Maroons hit seven threes to St. X's one. But the Tigers had a big edge at the foul line, making 15 of 23 to Madisonville's seven of eight.
Hood said the difference was St. X "was more physical. That's something we've got to learn to be."e_SClBSt. Xavier 56, Madisonville 48
ST. XAVIER (4-4) — Gunter 14, Lorh 11, Butcher 17, Jones 2, Just 4, Spalding 5, Raque 2, Ising 1.
MADISONVILLE (3-6) — Hood 18, R. Hatchett 15, C. Hatchett 6, Wade 2, Gregory 2, Robinson 5.
St. Xavier 16 7 16 17—56
Madisonville 10 16 15 7—48
