Coming out of the break in early January, the Knoxville Girls basketball Squad was 3-4 and likely not in a position to challenge for the South Central Conference title. Fast forward a few weeks and six wins, plus a few other things going their way in the conference, the Panthers with a win tonight over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont could put themselves in a position to be right there for possibly a share for the conference title. While the Panthers need to win out and get help, tonight’s contest with the Rockets will go a long way to figuring out where the Panthers ultimately land in the conference. Coach Matt Ritchhart tells KNIA/KRLS Sports EBF was one of the three conference losses he knows could have and should have gone their way the first time around.

Ritchhart: “We had our chances and we’re now in a position to possibly be in a tie, so we have to keep going.”

For the boys, Coach Troy Pearson is simplifying things. He tells KNIA/KRLS Sports the guys play better when they do not have to think and they just play their game.

Pearson: “I’m going into that game to keep things as simple as I can, we’re better when we’re not thinkin about things. We got a good half out of it, maybe we can get two good halves.”

The Panthers stomped Chariton on Saturday 84-65, a game that Knoxville moved the ball and kept driving and kicking to an open shooter on the perimeter. Listen to both games live on 95.3 KNIA tonight at 6:15, with audio provided on the KHS Activities You Tube Channel.