A 35 game conference winning streak came to an end for the Knoxville Girls Basketball Squad as the Panthers lost to Centerville on Tuesday night 60-52 while the boys did enough in a rock fight win over the Big Reds 55-41 in games heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The girls came into the game not playing since December 15th and it showed early on trailing 18-5 after one quarter. When the Panthers switched defenses in the second, they picked up the pace and trailed 24-20 at the half, and then raced out to a 41-38 lead after three quarters, but the fuel tank read E and Centerville quickly established control. Maggie Wilkins led the Panthers with 33 points as they fall to 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in the South Central Conference. The boys game was played at a slow pace all game with the Panthers only generating 23 points at the half. The good news was, Centerville was unable to generate much scoring as well and could only muster 15 points by the break. In the second half, the Panthers behind Luke Keitges, Kieren Nichols, and Spencer Hixson, who combined for 31 second half points, won going away. Coach Jeff Larson told KNIA/KRLS Sports it was not pretty how they won, but they won and that is all that matters.

Larson:
“We did what we needed to do to win, and we have a lot of things to work on. We beat them at their own game for the most part, and I think we got a little tired running up and down the floor, but we got a stop when we needed it.”

Keitges and Nichols had 17 points each while Hixson scored 15 to lead the 5-0 Panthers, who are now 4-0 in the conference play. Both boys and girls squads will travel to Albia on Friday with the boys playing a showdown for 1st place in the South Central Conference.