Pekin girls top Lone Tree

LONE TREE ? As far back as head coach Davis Eidahl can remember, the Pekin girls? basketball team has never attempted close to 43 shots from the charity stripe in one game.

That is, until Tuesday?s opener vs. conference rival Lone Tree.

The Panthers accomplished that mark ? compared to 23 free throws attempted by Lone Tree ? on their way to beating the Lions 50-47.

?What I liked is how we drove and took the ball to the basket [for fouls].? Now we need to convert,? said Eidahl.

Pekin (1-0) converted 24 of the 43 attempts in a contest where nearly every free throw mattered. The Panthers led 21-20 at halftime, and both teams continued to trade baskets in the second half. Lone Tree grabbed a 42-40 lead late in the game prior to the Panthers scoring 10 of the final 15 points.

Cheyann Lankford scored 11 points ? nine of them off free throws ? to lead the Panthers. Emily Ellis, Leslie Stone, Samantha Wright and Brandy Millikin all tallied eights points. Paige Jensen added seven points along with a team-high 11 boards.

Defensively, Stone snagged three steals while Millikin and Lankford recorded two each.

The Panthers will continue conference play with a game at WACO Tuesday.

PEKIN ? Lankford 1-10 11, Ellis 2-5 8, Stone 3-5 8, Millikin 1-7 8, Wright 3-6 8, Jensen 3-10 7

Rebounds ? Jensen 11, Stone 6. Assists ? Ellis 1, Stone 1, Cooley 1. Steals ? Stone 3, Millikin 2, Lankford 2