The Knoxville and Albia Boys Basketball Squads gave fans everything they wanted on Thursday, except a Panther victory as the Blue Demons defeated Knoxville 70-66 while the Knoxville Girls ran all over Albia in a 79-35 laugher heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The boys game was close all the way through, with both teams holding respective seven point leads with the other battling back to take the lead. It was Albia who put on a 16-5 run to end the game after Knoxville was up by seven with around four minutes left to finish the game. Coach Jeff Larson told KRLS Sports Albia’s ability to get inside was a key to the game.

Larson:
“We told our kids all along you got to stay down, they’re going to shot fake and you have to stay down and not jump. We jumped a couple times and dribbled to the left and made it. We still got some things to clear up and we still control our own destiny.”

The Panthers can still win the South Central Conference outright with a win tonight against Centerville and a win over either Albia and Davis County next week. The girls flat owned the Lady Dees from start to finish jumping out to a 27-9 first quarter lead and never looking back, winning by 44 points. Maggie Wilkins tied her career high of 33 points while Katie Keitges scored 27. The Panthers can clinch at least a share of the South Central Conference title with a win tonight over Centerville. Both games will be live at six on 95.3 KNIA.