The PCM boys basketball squad had a big third quarter to take control over Knoxville, then hung on to get the win over the Panthers 48-45 in the season opener for both teams as heard on 95.3 KNIA. The game started slowly with neither team getting into a rhythm offensively, but Knoxville opened up the scoring a bit in the second quarter to take a seven point lead with two minutes remaining but PCM would close the gap to four by halftime. The Mustangs started making shots and defending better in the third quarter and taking advantage of Knoxville mistakes to build an 11 point lead early in the fourth before Knoxville would make a come back to get the lead down to two but could get no closer. PCM Coach Fred Lorensen told KRLS Sports it was a matter of getting his guys to slow down and play better defense in the second half.
Lorensen:
“The main thing was to slow down. We’d get the ball and we’d throw one pass and dribble, and dribble and dribble and then take a bad shot. We just weren’t in sync very much. A little bit was to getting to the right spots, getting better spacing and get them to cut a little better. We got some good attacks on the basket and getting to the hole a couple of times. We needed every bit of those points because it got real close at the end.”
Knoxville Coach Jeff Larson said everyone needs to be on the same page moving forward and that was the key to the beginning of the second half.
Larson:
“The little things we’re talking about is we come out at halftime we’re supposed to be in one defense and everyone else is in another defense. Come out of the huddle and were in one defense and everyone else is in another defense. The kids aren’t listening and that was a topic of discussion. We’ll get better.”
PCM was led in scoring by Durant Van Dyke with 15 points while Derek Brown had 13. Knoxville was led by Kieren Nichols and Spencer Hixson both with 18 points. PCM is 1-0 and will travel to Saydel on Friday, while Knoxville is 0-1 and is off until next Tuesday when the Panthers travel to Clarke.
The Knoxville Girls Basketball Squad came out firing against Van Meter and held on for a 63-56 win over the Bulldogs on Tuesday night. The Panthers built a lead as high as 16 before hitting free throws down the stretch to get the seven point victory. Katie Keitges led the Panthers with 31 points while Maggie Wilkins scored 22 and hit key free throws in the fourth quarter to preserve the win. The victory moves Knoxville to 2-0 on the season. The Panthers will host Oskaloosa on Saturday afternoon.