Foul trouble helps Keota boys win

KEOTA ? Successful free throws helped Keota move on in the postseason Thursday, Feb. 16, as they would end up defeated Pekin by a final score of 69-65.

The two teams would keep it close the entire night as Keota would pull ahead near the end of the first quarter going up 12-11.

Keota kept the lead in the second quarter as they scored 18 points while holding Pekin back to just nine, giving the Eagles a 10-point lead at the half.

Returning to the court after the break is where the foul trouble started for both teams, despite both teams scoring at least 20 points in the frame.

Keota was up 50-42 at the end of the third quarter, with nine fouls on the board and Pekin having eight.

In the fourth quarter both teams played strong defense, and they both went to the line the entire eight-minutes of play numerous times. Pekin made 7-8 from the line and Keota was 7-12.

Pekin would close the gap in the fourth quarter to as much as two points twice, but it wasn?t enough as Keota would take advantage of the free throws late in the quarter to get the win.

Eagles coach Dan Stout said after the game that the win is nice.

?No matter how you get it, the kids just want to get the win,? he says. ?We came over a lot of adversity with a starter out sick.

?Both teams had a lot of foul trouble, but I thought the boys did a great job in handling their composure and finishing it off.?

When talking about the numerous fouls Stout says that did help toward the team getting the win.

?Pekin had two kids foul out early in the fourth quarter and that?s big on their part,? Stout said.

?I thought Avery (Conrad) did a great job down low of forcing the issue and making Pekin defend him. I thought he played a great game.?

In getting for Danville next week Stout says they are ready.

?We don?t change a lot of things,? he says. ?We will keep doing the same things we do.

?Danville will be good and we will just keep doing our things and make ourselves better and rebound a little better since Danville has a bigger team.?

Even though the Eagles are one step closer toward reaching the State tournament, they can?t forget what is happning now.

?We have to take each game one at a time,? Stout says. ?You can?t look ahead. We got lucky to sneak out one here and are happy to be moving on.?

The loss puts Pekin?s season at 11-10 while Keota (17-5) moves on to play against Danville at Mt. Pleasant Tuesday, Feb. 21.