By Mark Schafer | The News-Review
 FAIRFIELD – When things start to go well, they can go really well.
At least that’s what it seems like has been happening lately for the Pekin boys basketball team.
Last week, the Panthers improved to 10-3 overall on the season as they picked up wins over WACO and Fairfield.
In both victories, it seemed like one quarter proved to be the difference. In Thursday night’s 68-43 victory over Fairfield, it was the first half that seemed to propel the Panthers to their ultimate 68-43 victory.
“The intensity in the first half really got us going,” said Alijah Brock. “We came out hot and that just impacted everything, and once we got started, we were able to carry that over into the second half.”
Both teams started off the game on a relatively defensive minded track. The Panthers grabbed an early lead, but they weren’t able to shake the Fairfield team that never seemed to fall too far behind.
Although the Panthers were using their speed to rush up and down the floor. In the closing seconds of the first quarter, it seemed that the Panthers had broken free with a four point lead. However, Fairfield kept the pressure with a three pointer at the buzzer to stay within one point 12-11.
“Getting into the stop, score, stop mentality really helped us expand on the lead there in the second quarter,” said John Swanson, the head coach for the Pekin boys basketball team. “We really started to focus on getting a stop, then scoring and creating turnovers which always help us get into a better offensive flow.”
At first, to start the second quarter, it was Fairfield that got the first stop. The Trojans scored off an early turnover by the Panthers to take the lead. For the next seven minutes Pekin would go on the attack.
Three straight steals allowed the Panthers to retake the lead, and eventually extend the lead to seven. More missed shots by Fairfield and rebounds by Pekin allowed the Panthers to extend their lead.
Pekin didn’t allow Fairfield to get into any sort of comfort zone.
By the time the second quarter ended, the Panthers had extended their lead 34-15, after outscoring the Trojans 22-4 throughout the second quarter.
“We were just able to create some easy shots,” Swanson said. “We had layup after layup go in and then we hit a few threes, I think Riley Smith and Cole Millikin both hit threes to extend the lead. Once you get those kind of shots the score really compounds quickly.”
Although momentum slowed a little for the Panthers in the third quarter, as Fairfiled out scored the Panthers 17-15, the Pekin lead was strong.
It would only grow in the final frame.
As they did in the second quarter, the Panthers put an emphasis on stopping the Fairfield possessions. Several back-to-back steals or rebounding opportunities helped the Panthers extend their lead.
“We were really focused on the defensive end,” Swanson said. “We executed much better and were able to get stops after stops, and eventually, the lid came off the hoop and we were able to really extend the lead.”
Thursday night was a strong one for the Panthers as four of the five starters were able to finish with double digit figures in points.
“We really preach unselfishness with the ball,” Swanson said. “This team really embodies that well. All of the guys know it is about the team and taking the best shot for the team, even if that means an extra pass.”
Alijah Brock led the scoring in Thursday night’s win with 17 total points. Cole Millikin added 14 points. Nolan Glick added another 13 points. Â
Riley Smith finished with 11 points. Henry Adam added eight points. Brody Sobaski added three points and Cal Miller had two points.
In their Tuesday night win over WACO the Panthers used a 24-point first half to gain an ultimate 44-35 victory over the Warriors.
The Panthers took control in a low scoring first half as they were able to lead 13-6 after the opening eight minutes. After scoring 11 points, but allowing 13 points in the second quarter the Panthers held onto a 24-19 lead at halftime.
Neither team scored much in the second half. WACO would end up with 16 points in the second half. Pekin maintained the lead with 20 points scored in the final 16 minutes.
Cole Millikin led the way with 16 points for the Panthers. Henry Adam scored nine points. Both Alijah Brock and Nolan Glick finished with eight points each. Riley Smith finished with three points.
Overall, the Panthers are 10-3 on the season. This week, they have games against EBF, Louisa-Muscatine and Lone Tree.
