For the second straight game, the Knoxville Basketball Squads had to fight and scratch for a win and for the second straight game, the Panthers came away with two wins last night in Chariton with the girls winning 53-49 and the boys coming from behind in the 4th quarter to get a 63-56 victory. In the girls game, it looked like whoever would get to ten points first would win as Knoxville, while not pretty at times, led after one quarter 5-0, however Chariton would hang with the Panthers for the remainder of the game, not letting Knoxville to get away. Just like she did Friday night, Natalie Collins came in the 3rd quarter and three-three point shots to put Knoxville up by nine heading into the final eight minutes, but the Chargers would not go away getting the lead down to two points with just six seconds to play, but Hannah Dunkin stepped up to the free throw line and drained two which clinched the win. Collins told KNIA/KRLS Sports the team work this season is showing and everyone is contributing.

Collins: “It really means a lot and it’s nice to pass the ball around and work together and just play as a team.”

Collins led the Panthers with 12 points Emma Dunkin had 11 and Larissa Wells scored ten. The boys started off slowly again and it looked like they had run out of time down six points in the fourth quarter, but took the lead with the help of a 17-0 run trailing 49-43, to go up 60-49. Carson Uitermarkt had a breakout game with 16 of his 19 points in the 2nd half.

The Panthers would never trail after that point and put the game away hitting three of four free throws down the stretch. The girls are 4-1 on the season and 3-1 in the South Central Conference while the boys are also 4-1 and 4-0 in the conference. Both return home Friday to host Centerville on Hall of Fame Induction night.