The Knoxville and Pella Christian basketball games that were scheduled for Monday night were postponed to Thursday of this week due to the winter storm bearing down on south central Iowa. The boys have already won a couple games this season after having some in-game adversity. During their win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, the Panthers had to fight through multiple runs the Rockets threw at them before ultimately winning that game. In their last game against Albia on Friday, the Panthers saw the Blue Demons trim a 17 point lead to nine, only to quickly get the lead back up to double figures. Coach Troy Pearson has seen a rise in confidence in his team this season that he did not see last year.

Pearson: “Really told me something about our boys. In the past we’ve thought if we could be there at the end, but now we go to each game knowing if we play well, we have a chance to win.”

Along with sharing the ball well, Pearson adds the players are playing so well together, and they do not care who gets the spotlight, just as long result is a win.