For three quarters, not only did the Knoxville Girls basketball Squad give class 4A #1 ranked and defending state champion Dallas Center-Grimes all the Mustangs could handle, the Panthers were actually leading after 24:00 of play by one point. But, DCG outscored the Panthers 14-1 in the final 8:00 of the play to hold off a monumental upset, downing the Panthers 56-44 heard live on 95.3 KNIA. Both teams traded the lead and momentum throughout the 1st half playing to a 25-all stalemate after 16:00 of play. The Panthers got key shots to drop in the 3rd quarter and had the lead as high as five points before settling for a one point lead. That is when DCG ran off nine straight points to take control and hold off Knoxville. Panthers Coach Matt Ritchhart told KNIA/KRLS Sports all he wanted was for his girls to compete for 32:00, and he got it and more.

Ritchhart: “I didn’t know how this game was going to go with the defending state champion. I wanted the girls to compete no matter what the scoreboard showed, but we competed and it showed on the scoreboard.”

Hannah Dunkin led a balanced Panther attack with 13 points, Anna Buttell scored 11 and Abbie Keitges scored eight points. Knoxville finishes up with an 11-11 record.