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Panthers, Wolves battle at MP jamboree
Area teams get game-time action ahead of 2023-24 season
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — Eight Southeast Iowa girls basketball teams met in Mt. Pleasant on Monday night for the Panthers’ home jamboree. Each team played one half basketball, getting everyone set up for the upcoming season.
Among those eight teams were two from the Southeast Iowa Union’s coverage area, and they just so happened to play each other. Mt. Pleasant and Winfield-Mount Union battled it out in the final game of the night.
“It's great, because it gives us an idea of where we need to focus, and what we need to work on,” said Winfield-Mount Union Mendy McCreight.
The Panthers got the best of the Wolves early on, outscoring WMU 14-3 in the first quarter. WMU came storming back in the second, but Mt. Pleasant hung on, winning 19-14.
“I thought we played a really good first quarter,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Curt Watson. “In the second quarter, we just got in too big of a hurry.”
The Panthers were led in scoring by Tori Wilson, who put up eight points on the night.
“It was awesome for Tori,” Watson said. “I had just told her on Saturday she has to start shooting more. I think this game is going to give her a lot of confidence.”
The Panthers got four points each out of Kynlee White and Paityn Ensminger. Alexa Fuller scored two points, and Abigail Shelangoski finished with one.
WMU was led by freshman Kynlee Buffington, who put up 10 points. Madisen Kellogg scored four.
The game was especially crucial for WMU, which begins the regular season this Friday in New London. Coach McCreight says her upperclassmen have been key in making sure the younger girls are ready.
“We still have a few girls that are new to the game, and then our freshman has stepped up a lot,” McCreight said. “Those girls have played great leadership roles out on the court, and they've helped the underclassmen learn the things we need to learn.”
Mt. Pleasant will host “Meet the Panthers” on Thursday night, where the girls will get a little more experience before opening up the regular season next Tuesday against Pella.
