The Washington Demons earned one of their most impressive victories of the boys’ basketball season Saturday by knocking off conference rival Keokuk 55-51. Facing a Chiefs squad that had lost just one conference game coming in and had beaten them by 27 points earlier this season, Washington was undaunted on the road.

The Demons turned a one-point deficit in a back-and-forth first quarter into a halftime lead by using a 19-2 run to close the first half and take a 31-15 lead. They would still be in front by 14 points going into the final period, thanks in part to a red-hot shooting day where they hit 11 three-point baskets as a team.

Keokuk would make a push in the final quarter to try and come back, but Washington would hold them off thanks to clutch free-throw shooting and the last of those 11 threes from junior Logan McDole in the last three minutes. Demon head coach Collin Stark told KCII Sports that it was a great game from his team, especially given that it was the second game for the squad in as many days.

“Credit to our guys that they responded to what we talked about at [the] half [Friday],” Stark said, “and it carried over into this game. That’s the toughest part. You just played one full game, and you had to work your way back last night. It takes a lot of energy and a lot of willpower to do that in one game, let alone have to come out and play another full conference game.”

McDole paced Washington by hitting four total triples and tying a season high with 19 points scored. Sophomore Rajan Roth added 11 points, while freshman Nic Stone hit a trio of treys off the bench to help the Demons improve to 4-3 in the Southeast Conference and 6-6 overall.

The Washington girls would suffer a 59-32 defeat Saturday at Keokuk. Despite only being down 16-7 at the end of the first quarter and trailing by 12 points at halftime, the Demons were on the wrong end of a 21-7 run in the third period that put the game out of reach. Washington drops to 4-3 in conference play and is 7-6 overall.

Both Demon teams will be back on the hardwood later tonight when they host Ottumwa. You can hear both games of the Washington doubleheader this evening on your home for Demon basketball, 106.1 FM KCII, the KCII app and KCIIradio.com. Coverage starts with the Countdown to Tip-Off at 5:30.