By Mark Schafer | The News-Review
PACKWOOD – The final week of the season before break proved to be a bit of a roller coaster.
A tough schedule of conference games awaited the Panthers before break. They were able to experience some of the highs, with a Friday night win over Hillcrest Academy 52-40. There were some low spots too, including a 41-32 setback against Columbus, where the Panthers led for the first three quarters of the game.
For the Panthers it is all about the growth the girls are showing as they adopt to a new style and way of play under head coach Neil Hartz.
“We have to have positive and a strong mental state,” Hartz said, following the Thursday night game. “We have to believe in what we are putting in. Everything we are doing is completely new. It’s not like we have been doing this for a long time. This is my first year with the girls, and we have only been working on our game stuff for the past six weeks. It isn’t like we have had years to fine tune everything. We will keep building and keep learning and see how that goes.”
There were more than a few lessons to be learned in Thursday night’s game.
Battling a Columbus team that was going to battle no matter what the Panthers learned what it takes to win a close game.
After leading 24-18 at halftime, the second half didn’t go the way the Panthers had been expecting.
Throughout the third quarter the Panthers were able to create what they wanted. they were able to get open shots at the hoop, but the ball refused to fall. Shot after shot rolled off the rim, and usually, fell into the hands of a Columbus player.
With so many empty possessions, the once healthy lead of the Panthers started to dwindle. Throughout the quarter Columbus would get close to Pekin, and the Panthers would continue to create space with their own made shots. Close to the end of the third quarter Columbus was able to force a turnover and score, taking the lead for the Panthers down to just two points, 31-29.
“We didn’t get out of our own way through most of the second half,” Hartz said. “We need to start valuing the ball. We can’t have 30 turnovers a game and be successful.”
The turnovers started to work against the Panthers in the final quarter. Columbus closed the gap to just one point early on, and would later use a 4-0 run to grab the lead. Pekin continued to struggle to create shots, and hold onto the ball as the lead for Columbus grew in the final minutes.
As time was running out the Panthers just tried to pepper the rim with as many shots as they could, trying to gain any firepower to turn the game around. The shots continued to tease the Panther fans with shots that just rolled out of the rim, and not letting the Panthers get closer than six points.
Eventually Columbus would hold onto a nine point win.
“We have to make some shots,” Hartz said. “We made some threes that was a positive. If we can’t get the ball to Anna (Hadley), then someone else is going to have to want the ball and step up. Abby (Guise) has shown she is able to make some shots, but she gets so tired so easily. We don’t have a lot of time to work on things. We need to really focus on getting better during Christmas break.”
Anna Hadley led the Panthers with 13 points in the game on Thursday. she added 13 rebounds as well. Guise finished with 10 points. She added four assists and three steals.
Maddy Petrehn would finish with eight total points.Ezra Parsons and Carlie Gambell both scored three points.
The Panthers didn’t have much time to dwell on the game that slipped away from them on Thursday night. Friday night the Panthers were able to play against Hillcrest Academy.
Friday night’s game was one of healing for the Panthers as they were able to stop a three-game skid with a 52-40 victory over the Ravens.
The Panthers trailed by three after the first quarter, but held Hillcrest Academy to just six points in the second quarter to take the lead at halftime.
Strong defense carried over the rest of the way for the Panthers as they limited Hillcrest Academy to 20 points in the second half. Pekin would finish with 29 points in the second half. That gave them a 12-point win, and a bit of cheer going into the break.
Hadley had a strong game against Hillcrest Academy scoring 24 points with 18 rebounds. Gambell finished with 14 points and four rebounds. Guise finished with eight points and three rebounds.
Mya Glick would finish with four points while Addison Smith added two points in the game.
The win improves the Panthers to 4-3 overall on the season.
Photos by Mark Schafer
