Seniors lead Panthers in home loss

MT. PLEASANT - It wasn't a win, but there is plenty to be optomistic about for Mt. Pleasant boys basketball fans after an 11-point loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier on Tuesday night. The Panthers kept it close with the perrenial state tournament qualifier, falling 54-43.

'I hope we continue to play with that level of tenacity,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Caleb Akey. 'When you play with that type of energy, it makes up for your mistakes sometimes.”

The Panthers trailed 15-8 after one quarter of play but cut the lead to just five by halftime. Xavier went into the locker rooms with a 26-21 advantage.

The Saints were able to stifle Mt. Pleasant in the third quarter, keeping the Panthers to a game-low six points in the period. The Saints put up a game-high 16 points in the third and held a 42-27 lead after three.

Mt. Pleasant didn't go away, playing their best quarter in the fourth. The Panthers scored a game-high 16 in the final quarter to help cut the lead to 11.

Mt. Pleasant's two returning starters co-lead the team in scoring. Keegan Kohorst and Jaxon Hoyle went for 11 points apiece in the loss.

Brevin Wilson finished the night with eight points. Brody Bender and Dewon Trent scored four each, with Bender pulling down a team-high seven rebounds. Clayton Lowery and Jack Johnson had two points each, and Konnor Peterson scored one.

'We had a lot of mistakes tonight,” said coach Akey. 'Obviously, part of that is being the first game of the year and trying to put everything together, but hopefully we can continue to play hard and overcome some of those mistakes while we're learning do to things the right way.”

The Panthers will play their first road game on Friday, Dec. 6. Mt. Pleasant travels to Ft. Madison to open Southeast Conference play against the Bloodhounds.