In a Jefferson County showdown on Thursday, January 15th, the Pekin Panthers pulled away from the Fairfield Trojans with a decisive 68-43 victory on “Everybody vs. Cancer” night.
Game Summary
What started as a competitive contest quickly shifted in Pekin’s favor during a dominant second quarter. After leading just 12-11 after the first period, the Panthers exploded for 22 points in the second quarter while holding Fairfield to only four, taking a commanding 34-15 halftime advantage.
Pekin maintained control throughout the second half, leading 49-32 after three quarters before cruising to the 25-point victory.
Pekin’s Balanced Attack
The Panthers showcased impressive depth and balance, with all five starters reaching double figures or near it:
Alijah Brock led the way with a double-double performance of 17 points and 10 rebounds, doing most of his damage in the first half with 14 points. He was highly efficient, shooting 8-of-11 from the field. Cole Millikin added 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and Nolan Glick contributed 13 points, heating up with nine in the second half.
Riley Smith chipped in 11 points and five rebounds on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting, while Henry Adam orchestrated the offense brilliantly with nine assists to go along with eight points (3-of-5 shooting) and three steals. Reserves Brody Sobaski had three points and two rebounds, Cal Miller had two points and two rebounds, and Mason Dahlstrom had a rebound and a steal.
The Panthers had balanced scoring and an amazing all-around effort from everyone.
Fairfield Fights Back Late
Despite the lopsided score, Fairfield showed resilience with strong individual performances. Ethan Bisgard paced the Trojans with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 13 in the third quarter as Fairfield tried to mount a comeback. Drew Myers added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter, along with six rebounds.
Eli Zillman provided energy off the bench with six points, four steals, and two blocks, while Nolan Smith grabbed seven rebounds. Several other Trojans saw action, including Jeremy Parker, Spencer McCready, Xavier Kessel, Chase Countryman, Luke Thornton, Henry Konczal, Rowan Kness, and Parker Reid.
By the Numbers
Pekin shot an impressive 50.9% from the field (27-of-53) and was particularly lethal from three-point range, connecting on 57.1% (8-of-14) of their attempts. The Panthers also made 6-of-9 free throws and dominated the glass with 28 rebounds. They moved the ball effectively with 15 assists and recorded 11 steals, committed 14 turnovers, and were called for 12 fouls.
Fairfield struggled offensively, shooting 41% from the field (16-of-39) and 22.2% from beyond the arc (2-of-9). The Trojans did get to the free-throw line more frequently, making 9-of-16 attempts. Fairfield grabbed 23 rebounds and dished out seven assists while recording 11 steals of their own. The Trojans committed 20 turnovers and 13 fouls.
Coach’s Perspective
Fairfield Head Coach Nathan Perkins acknowledged the challenge: “Ethan Bisgard continues to play well. We had a really tough second quarter and couldn’t climb out of that hole. It was good to see Drew Myers get back on track. Pekin is a really solid team and they capitalized on our miscues.”
Pekin improves to 10-3, and Fairfield falls to 2-9.
