Pekin basketball teams best Wapello, split games with WACO

PEKIN – Last week the Pekin basketball teams finished the week with a 3-1 overall record. 

Both the Pekin boys and girls teams were able to best Wapello on Tuesday night. Friday’s games against WACO resulted in the girls winning, but the boys falling just short of the victory. 

For the girls they were able to best Wapello 49-42 in a Dec. 3 game. 

The Panthers started out the game with a seven point lead after the end of the first quarter, and led by six at halftime, 29-23.

The Panthers limited Wapello to two points in the third quarter, which eventually sparked the Panthers to finish with a 49-42 win. 

Anna Hadley led the Panthers in scoring with 13 points. Abby Guise came off the bench to score 11. Ranae Eubanks scored nine points. 

Both Ezra Parsons and Maddy Petrehn would finish the game with six points each. 

Friday night the Panthers were on the road where they battled WACO to a 52-45 victory. 

Once again, the third quarter proved to be the difference. Pekin led 25-24 at halftime, but went on an 18-2 run in the third quarter to secure their lead, and the eventual win. 

Renae Eubanks led the Panthers with 14 points. Guise scored 13 points in Friday night’s victory. Paislee Coleman finished the game with 10 points. 

Hadley added nine points to her season total and Petrehn would finish with six points. 

The Panther girls are 2-1 so far this season. 

The Panther boys season started with a 72-42 victory over Wapello. The first quarter of the season featured plenty of offense from the Panthers as they were able to outscore the Indians 23-9. From there the Panthers never gave up the lead and eventually won by 30 points. 

Junior Cole Millikin scored 24 points to lead the Panthers. Will Adam added 14 points. Nolan Glick scored 10 points. Kasey Davis finished the game with seven points while Henry Adam added six. 

Friday night the Panthers were defeated by WACO, in heartbreaking fashion, 53-52. 

Both teams were tied after the first period, and Pekin took a 25-23 lead with them into halftime. 

In the third quarter WACO made up the difference, setting up the fourth quarter with both teams tied at 38. 

Throughout the final frame WACO scored one more point than the Panthers to win the game. 

 No stats were available at press time. 

The Panthers stand at 1-1 overall this season.