Panthers fall short to defending champs

MONTEZUMA — Pekin has been a dangerous team all year long. The Panthers have shown that they can compete with anyone.

The same was true for the Panthers in the first round of the Class 1A Region 5 playoff; however, Pekin fell just short against the defending Class 1A State Champions Montezuma, 63-46.

Following the first period, Pekin trailed Montezuma 16-13, but the Panthers answered back in the second outscoring the Braves 18-11.

Pekin went into the locker room with an 31-27 lead.

The Panthers lead was short-lived as the Braves put together their best scoring output in the third. Pekin was outscored 21-11 in the quarter and at the start of the fourth, the Panthers trailed 48-42.

Struggles continued for Pekin into the fourth, as the Panther’s offense went stagnant. Pekin scored just four points in the fourth quarter compared to Montezuma’s 15.

Pekin ends its 2021-22 campaign with a 9-13 record.