Columbus girls basketball takes down Pekin

PACKWOOD - Columbus girls basketball had to scratch and claw its way into the lead Friday night. With 4:08 left in the third quarter, it finally had a chance to go in front.

Kennedy Woepking stepped up and made two free throws to put the visiting Wildcats ahead 34-33. It was Columbus’ first lead of the game, which it wouldn’t relinquish to hold on for a 41-37 win.

“We really just made sure to stay together and tell ourselves that we know we can do it,” junior Ellie Sanders said of the comeback. “And stay confident because we know we’re a good team and we know we’re better than that.”

Columbus’ effort was ever present. The Wildcats could have rolled over after Pekin scored the first eight points of the game, but instead leaned on its defense, which pressed the Panthers into submission and forced 30 turnovers.

“We held them to 13 (points) in the second half and minimized their opportunities,” Columbus coach Kasey Keltner said. “So I’ve got to really give credit to our defensive look and they played hard and got after it.”

It was far from a perfect day for either team on offense. Columbus shot just 27.7% from the field but made five 3s to just three for Pekin.

It was the output on both ends from Columbus’ entire lineup that helped separate the Wildcats. Iris Garza led the way with 13 points while Sanders scored 11, including five straight points in the second quarter.

Sanders added a team high seven rebounds, helping Columbus win the battle on the glass 30-27. She also had four assists and was one of four Wildcats players with three steals.

Isabel Rendon set the tone on defense. She scored just two points on 1 of 7 shooting, but stole the ball six times and had four assists and four rebounds.

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The Wildcats only went seven players deep, but even its bench players contributed to an impressive team win away from home. Woepking finished with seven points, four rebounds and three steals while Kymila Bacon scored just once, but had five boards and three takeaways.

“This group has not played a whole lot with each other,” Keltner said. “So, I think we’re just going to keep growing and I think it’s just understanding, what’s my role and trusting each other, and I think we’re getting better and better at that.”

Turnovers were a main culprit behind the defeat for the Panthers. Their defense was also strong, forcing 27 from the Wildcats, but struggled to move the ball cleanly against the Wildcats.

“We’ve got to get out of our own way sometimes,” Pekin coach Neil Hartz said. “We’ve got to start valuing the ball. We can’t keep having 30 turnovers a game and be successful.”

While all seven players who took the floor for Columbus, Pekin didn’t get any points from its reserves. Anna Hadley led the Panthers in scoring with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Abby Guise finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

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Maddy Petrehn led the way defensively for Pekin with eight steals. She also chipped in eight points while Carlie Gambell and Ezra Parsons each scored three.

Pekin was able to bounce back from the defeat with a 52-40 win over Hillcrest Academy on Friday. The Panthers next face Highland on Jan. 2 at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines.

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Columbus couldn’t keep its momentum rolling Friday and lost to Wapello 48-40. The Wildcats will next face WACO on Jan. 2.

Other area scores from Thursday and Friday.

Dec. 18

Highland 52, WACO 43

Mediapolis 81, Winfield-Mt. Union 49

Dec. 19

Mid-Prairie 63, Durant 25

Van Buren County 59, Danville 41

No. 11 Montezuma 53, No. 11 Keota 25

Chariton 66, Cardinal 35

Mediapolis 76, New London 13