While it was a preseason game that does not count towards the record, the Knoxville Girls Basketball Squad got off to a hot start and cruised over Ottumwa in the annual Pride Scrimmage last night at Knoxville High School 49-32. The Panthers had a 29-10 halftime lead paced by three girls in double figures led by Larissa Wells scoring 13 points, Anna Buttell and Brittany Bacorn had ten and Hannah Dunkin scored eight. While the Pride Scrimmage gives teams a chance to play a full game against another opponent they may not see during the regular season, Panthers Coach Matt Ritchhart tells KNIA/KRLS Sports the off the court message behind the game is what is more important.

Ritchhart: “The State of Iowa has had a good initiative to put these games on and the general rule is you have to bring a canned food item to raise awareness of hunger and it give the kids a life lesson that you need to help in your community, plus it give you a chance to play against someone other than yourself, which it pretty cool.”

Knoxville will get the season started for real on Tuesday when PCM comes to town for the season opener. That game will be our debut broadcast of Knoxville Basketball on 95.3 KNIA, the game will also be live on the KHS Activities You Tube Channel.