The Pekin Panthers improved to 3-0 on the season with a hard-fought 53-47 victory over WACO on Friday, December 5th, weathering a late fourth-quarter rally by the Warriors.
Game Recap
After trailing 5-0 in the opening minutes, Pekin responded to take a 14-12 lead after the first quarter. The Panthers caught fire in the second quarter, outscoring WACO 16-6 to build a commanding 30-18 halftime advantage. Pekin extended the lead to 46-31 after three quarters before holding on in a tense fourth quarter that saw WACO outscore the Panthers 16-7.
Pekin’s offense was clicking early, with their defense holding WACO in check through the first three quarters. However, the Panthers struggled down the stretch, missing eight consecutive free throws after scoring their final points with 2:09 remaining. Despite the late struggles, Pekin’s first-half dominance proved enough to secure the victory.
Pekin Stats
Anna Hadley led Pekin with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Abby Guise recorded a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and four steals. Maddy Petrehn contributed 10 points and three rebounds while shooting an efficient 4-of-5 from the field. Carlie Gambell added nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Ezra Parsons finished with three points, four rebounds, a team-high five assists, and two steals. Addison Smith chipped in one point and one rebound.
Taylor Moore and Kendra Schultz also contributed off the bench.
As a team, Pekin shot 16-of-39 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 18-of-32 from the free-throw line. The Panthers grabbed 36 rebounds but committed 31 turnovers.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: After falling behind 5-0, Pekin battled back behind Guise’s six points, Parsons’ three points, Petrehn’s two points, Hadley’s two points, and Smith’s one point to take a 14-12 lead.
Second Quarter: The Panthers dominated the frame 16-6, with Hadley erupting for eight points while Guise and Gambell each added four points. The strong offensive performance and solid defense gave Pekin a 30-18 halftime cushion.
Third Quarter: Pekin maintained control with balanced scoring. Petrehn led the way with eight points with two three-pointers, Gambell contributed five points, and Hadley added three points as the Panthers pushed their lead to 46-31.
Fourth Quarter: WACO made its run, outscoring Pekin 16-7 in the final frame. Guise scored four points, including key baskets at 7:33 and 4:18 that helped maintain the lead at 49-44. Hadley added three points on a basket and free throw at the 2:09 mark. However, Pekin’s eight consecutive missed free throws down the stretch nearly cost them the game before they held on for the six-point victory.
The Panthers (3-0) will look to continue their undefeated start with a week off before heading north to Louisa-Muscatine on Friday, December 12th.
The Pekin Panthers improved to 3-0 on the season with a hard-fought 53-47 victory over WACO on Friday, December 5th, weathering a late fourth-quarter rally by the Warriors.
Game Recap
After trailing 5-0 in the opening minutes, Pekin responded to take a 14-12 lead after the first quarter. The Panthers caught fire in the second quarter, outscoring WACO 16-6 to build a commanding 30-18 halftime advantage. Pekin extended the lead to 46-31 after three quarters before holding on in a tense fourth quarter that saw WACO outscore the Panthers 16-7.
Pekin’s offense was clicking early, with their defense holding WACO in check through the first three quarters. However, the Panthers struggled down the stretch, missing eight consecutive free throws after scoring their final points with 2:09 remaining. Despite the late struggles, Pekin’s first-half dominance proved enough to secure the victory.
Pekin Stats
Anna Hadley led Pekin with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Abby Guise recorded a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and four steals. Maddy Petrehn contributed 10 points and three rebounds while shooting an efficient 4-of-5 from the field. Carlie Gambell added nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Ezra Parsons finished with three points, four rebounds, a team-high five assists, and two steals. Addison Smith chipped in one point and one rebound.
Taylor Moore and Kendra Schultz also contributed off the bench.
As a team, Pekin shot 16-of-39 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 18-of-32 from the free-throw line. The Panthers grabbed 36 rebounds but committed 31 turnovers.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: After falling behind 5-0, Pekin battled back behind Guise’s six points, Parsons’ three points, Petrehn’s two points, Hadley’s two points, and Smith’s one point to take a 14-12 lead.
Second Quarter: The Panthers dominated the frame 16-6, with Hadley erupting for eight points while Guise and Gambell each added four points. The strong offensive performance and solid defense gave Pekin a 30-18 halftime cushion.
Third Quarter: Pekin maintained control with balanced scoring. Petrehn led the way with eight points with two three-pointers, Gambell contributed five points, and Hadley added three points as the Panthers pushed their lead to 46-31.
Fourth Quarter: WACO made its run, outscoring Pekin 16-7 in the final frame. Guise scored four points, including key baskets at 7:33 and 4:18 that helped maintain the lead at 49-44. Hadley added three points on a basket and free throw at the 2:09 mark. However, Pekin’s eight consecutive missed free throws down the stretch nearly cost them the game before they held on for the six-point victory.
The Panthers (3-0) will look to continue their undefeated start with a week off before heading north to Louisa-Muscatine on Friday, December 12th.
