Three local athletes earned unanimous honors on the All-KNIA/KRLS Boys Basketball Team, including Knoxville’s Kieren Nichols. Nichols was a first-team All-State selection this season, and earned 3rd-team honors in 2019. His 25.9 points per game this past winter ranked 3rd in Class 3A, and he sits at 1,084 career points, with ample opportunity to join Iowa’s elite in all-time scoring in 2021 after a banner junior season, where he topped the 500 point mark. He’s the 4th ever Panther to top 1,000 career points and was a 1st team All-South Central Conference pick.

While it can be hard to be the “other guy” on any basketball team, Spencer Hixson carved his own path to success in 2020. The junior averaged 12.1 points per game and led the Panthers with 129 rebounds. Hixson was a 2nd team all-South Central Conference honoree.