Pekin Girls Fall in Season Opener

WINFIELD – A close first half didn’t quite carry over for the rest of the game.

Pekin’s girls basketball team started their season with a 40-29 setback against Winfield-Mount Union in a game played Nov. 26. 

Throughout the game the Panthers were able to stay close with the Wolves, but a sour fourth quarter for the Panthers proved to be the difference in the game. 

Pekin started off with a defensive start to the game and held a narrow advantage at halftime. 

Both teams struggled to score many baskets in the first quarter, but Pekin was able to draw an 11-9 advantage after the first eight minutes. 

The second quarter featured both defenses doing their part to slow down the scoring. The Panthers were limited to just four points in the second quarter. Pekin’s defense didn’t let the Wolves play catch up too much as Winfield-Mt. Union was limited to just five points. 

That gave Pekin a 15-14 advantage. Soon the lead would grow for the Panthers. 

In the third quarter the Panthers were able to score 11 points to increase their narrow lead over the Wolves. Winfield-Mount Union was limited to just seven points in the third quarter.

Holding a 26-21 lead the Panthers took to the fourth quarter confident they would be able to hold off for the win. 

However, the home crowd of Winfield-Mount Union seemed to rally the Wolves as they were able to have their best quarter of the game. The Wolves scored 19 points, holding Pekin to just three, and securing a come-from-behind victory. 

Junior Anna Hadley led the Panthers with 10 points in the game. She also had nine rebounds. Sophomore Ezra Parsons was able to score seven points with three rebounds. 

Paislee Coleman added four points with eight total rebounds. Renae Eubanks and Carlie Campbell both finished with three points each. Eubanks had two rebounds and two assists. Campbell had three rebounds. 

Abby Guise led the team with 17 total rebounds. She also had a team-high four assists along with six steals and two total points.

The Panthers stand at 0-1 on the season. They played a game on Tuesday, Dec. 3 against Wapello (0-1) and are back on the road Friday when they play WACO (1-0).