Panthers grind out win over Muscatine

The Mt. Pleasant boys? team started the game with a 10-1 run in the first quarter and, despite struggling to put their shots in, held on from there for a 53-45 win over Muscatine in nonconference basketball last night.

?It was a grind,? Paul Rundquist, Mt. Pleasant basketball coach, said. ?You?re going to have nights when you don?t shoot well, and you have to find other ways to win. That?s exactly what happened tonight, but in the end, we have one in the win column, and that?s what matters.?

The Panthers, now 12-1 on the season, shot 37.3 percent from the floor (19-for-51) against the Muskies, who dropped to 3-9 overall.

It was a far cry from the 73.8 percent that Mt. Pleasant shot against Fairfield on Friday, and yet the Panthers ? led by Nick Lyon?s 18 points ? still managed to outscore the Muskies in three quarters of the game.

Combined with 31 rebounds, including a few key boards from Blake Vandenberg, and a defense that allowed only 45 points, the Panthers? 19 shots ? plus a few free throws ? were enough for the win.

After their opening run, Mt. Pleasant allowed the Muskies to make a comeback in the second quarter, even taking a lead at 16-15 with less than two minutes left in the half. But the Panthers fought back to gain a 21-19 edge by halftime.

In the third quarter, Mt. Pleasant got a 17-15 edge for a four-point lead going into the final eight minutes, and the Muskies would never get closer. The Panthers closed out the game by outscoring Muscatine 15-11 in the fourth quarter for the win.

Jordan Ashton joined Lyon in double-figure scoring with 14 points. Dalton Conrad added nine and Vandenberg chipped in seven.

Vandenberg, who played a key role in the team?s victory, grabbed 11 rebounds in the game, dished five assists, had one block and one steal.

?Blake Vandenberg moved really well,? Runquist said. ?He got big rebounds and hit his free throws late.?

Lyon pulled down eight boards on the night, had three assists and one steal. Ashton nabbed two thefts.

The Panthers will be back on the court Friday night when they travel to Keokuk (8-6 overall) for a Southeast Conference matchup. Rundquist and the Panther varsity team have won their last 34 conference contests and look to extend the streak.