The Pekin boys basketball team delivered a dominant performance on Friday, January 2nd, cruising past Highland 80–38 in a conference matchup played at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines.
Pekin set the tone early, jumping out to an 11–6 lead after the first quarter behind strong defensive pressure and efficient scoring. The Panthers continued to build momentum in the second quarter, taking a commanding 30–17 advantage into halftime. Balanced scoring fueled the run, with contributions from across the lineup, including Cole Millikin, Henry Adam, Alijah Brock, Riley Smith, Nolan Glick, and Cal Miller.
The game broke wide open in the third quarter as Pekin erupted for 30 points, extending the lead to 60–35. The quarter was punctuated by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Riley Smith, further energizing the Panther bench and crowd. Pekin maintained control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Highland 20–3 to secure the 80–38 victory.
Millikin led all scorers with 25 points, with 21 coming in the second half, while also adding four assists, four steals, and just one turnover in an outstanding all-around performance. Smith finished with 14 points and did not commit a turnover. Brock recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, along with three steals and a block. Adam narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Glick added eight points, six rebounds, and three assists without a turnover.
Additional scoring came from Cal Miller with five points, Brogan Spray with four, Henry Eubanks with two, and Carson Comstock with two.
As a team, Pekin turned in one of its most complete performances of the season, shooting 33-of-72 from the field, 9-of-22 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. The Panthers finished with 40 rebounds, 19 assists, 18 steals, and just six turnovers.
With the win, Pekin improved to 6–2 on the season, while Highland dropped to 1–7.
Following the game, Pekin head coach John Swanson praised his team’s effort and the atmosphere.
“It was a great team win at a neutral-site game,” Swanson said. “We had great contributions from multiple guys, and it was really fun to play in a place that hosts NCAA Tournament games. We also had a nice group of fans make the trip from Pekin, and we can’t thank them enough.”
Pekin will look to keep the momentum going when the Panthers return to action on Tuesday, January 6th, at Winfield-Mount
Photography courtesy of Michael Comstock.
