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Rough night for Panther hoops
Mt. Pleasant basketball teams swept in Keokuk
Andy Krutsinger
Feb. 5, 2024 1:20 pm
KEOKUK — It wasn’t the prettiest of days for the Mt. Pleasant basketball teams during the Panthers’ Southeast Conference road doubleheader in Keokuk on Friday night.
Needing a win to stay alone atop the SEC standings, the Panther boys suffered their worst loss of the year, dropping a key battle 57-38. The Mt. Pleasant girls fell to the now SEC-champion Chiefs 83-13.
On the boys’ side, Mt. Pleasant entered the night one win away from clinching the conference title with two games left. After one quarter of play, the potential celebration was squarely in doubt.
A barrage of 3-pointers and a stellar defensive effort helped the Chiefs shut the Panthers down in the first eight minutes. Keokuk led the game 19-3 at the first horn, and held a 25-14 halftime lead.
The Panthers were ice cold all first half, with only sophomore Christian Stacy finding any sort of consistent success offensively. He had 10 of the team’s 14 points at the break.
Mt. Pleasant had cut the lead down to single digits late in the second quarter and had a bit of momentum coming into the third, but it was all gone after a sluggish start out of the locker rooms. Keokuk immediately took control in the third, eventually winning the quarter 14-9 to go up 39-23 into the final period.
Mt. Pleasant created some chances with a full-court press in the fourth quarter, but Keokuk never let the Panthers get back within striking distance.
“That was just a good old fashioned butt-whooping,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Eric Rawson. “We haven’t had one of those in a while.”
Indeed, the Panthers hadn’t lost a game by 15 points or more all year long, and Mt. Pleasant had just one loss in league play, a 53-52 loss at Fort Madison.
Stacy finished the night with 18 points to lead the Panthers. Payton Hagans had 10 points. Nate Stroud finished with four points and 10 rebounds. Ian Reid scored three points, and Payson Coleman had one.
The Panther girls were in trouble early on, as Keokuk scored 27 points in the first quarter. The Chiefs led 27-6 after one quarter, 51-8 at halftime and 63-13 after three periods.
“We just come down here and we don't play well,” said Mt. Pleasant girls’ coach Curt Watson. “Give Keokuk credit. They exploit our weaknesses. I don't know what it is, but they've got a good home court advantage.”
Abby Carthey and Hailey Parrott each scored four points for the Panthers. Myah Starr had three points, and Paityn Ensminger scored two.
Keokuk has now clinched the SEC girls’ title with a 9-0 conference record. On the boys’ side, Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk are both 7-2, with Fort Madison sitting at 6-3.
On Friday night, Keokuk travels to Fort Madison in what is now a marquee conference clash. At the same time, Mt. Pleasant attempts to clinch at least a share of the title at Fairfield (0-8). A win against the Trojans would give the Panthers two-straight SEC titles, and maybe even wipe away some bad memories from a tough night down south.
“The game of basketball can be humbling at times,” Rawson said. “We were certainly humbled tonight.”