Panthers hang with Pella, fall short

MT. PLEASANT — It was a tough task for the Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team on Tuesday night, as the Panthers welcomed in a Pella squad that has had Mt. Pleasant’s number over the past eight years.

The Panthers played the Dutch as close as they ever have in an eight-year run of Pella victories. Mt. Pleasant kept the game within single digits almost all night, but Pella pulled away in the fourth, winning 51-37.

The Mt. Pleasant defense was working early, but the offense couldn’t find the basket in the first quarter, leading to an early 9-2 Pella lead. The Panthers cut that back to 22-16 at halftime, and were still very much in it, trailing 34-27 after three.

Andrea Lopreato finished the night with 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Mt. Pleasant. Tristian Shull scored 11 points. Kate Schimmelpfennig scored five, and Mackenzie Musselman had two.

The Panthers are now 0-1 on the year. They will host Ottumwa on Monday.