While the top five for the Knoxville Girls Basketball squad will be the most experienced on the floor, the Panthers will also need the services of a few freshmen to come off the bench and play significant minutes this season. Freshmen Emma Dunkin, Norah Pearson, Melanie Sullivan, and Larissa Wells all played valuable minutes during the Panthers’ Pride Game on Thursday. The four freshmen showed no fear in making several plays to give Knoxville a chance in the game the Panthers ultimately lost by six points. Knoxville will get its first regular season test Tuesday at home against PCM.

The Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad hopes that a lot of experience returning this season will help in finishing games. Two years ago, the Panthers led nine games at the half time break, only to lose all nine of them. Last season, Knoxville was 0-5 in games decided by eight points or fewer, including an early season loss to Eddyville-Blakebsurg-Fremont on a last second three pointer. Coach Jeff Larson hopes with the experience on the team this season they can turn those close loses to wins and learn how to close out games in the fourth quarter. Knoxville gets the season started on December 3rd against PCM, which is our first broadcast of the winter season on 95.3 KNIA.