Pekin picks up another close one

WINFIELD ? Another game, another barn burner for Pekin.

Tuesday night was the Panthers? turn to rally as they overcame a second-half deficit to squeak out a 50-48 victory at Winfield-Mount Union (3-2, 3-1 SEISC north).

Pekin (3-1, 3-1) trailed by as many as six points with less than a minute left in the third quarter before taking the game with a big fourth quarter. Free throws down the stretch sealed the game for the Panthers.

?We came out in a man-to-man defense for the second half, and it really brought up our intensity on both ends of the court,? said head coach Davis Eidahl.

Last week, the Panthers blew a nine-point fourth-quarter lead before losing by two at IMS and won a triple-overtime game at home vs. WACO.

Emily Ellis continued her hot shooting going 2-for-3 from behind the arc to lead Pekin with 14 points. Cheyann Lankford chipped in 13 more and Brandy Millikin also hit from deep to score seven. Dominique Tolle finished with a team-high seven rebounds to go along with six points.

Next up for the Panthers Thursday?s trip to Cardinal.