Don Kuhnen, AP Sports
The EP Panther boys basketball team won their home opener Friday night in Erie escaping with a hard fought 36-32 win. A big crowd saw a tenacious defense throughout the contest and especially in the last couple minutes that helped the Panthers win their first conference battle of the year.
After a defensive stop to start the game, Keegan Winckler found Max Milem open on a drive to the basket who laid it in for a 2-0 lead. Milem was making his first start after missing the opening tourney due to an ankle sprain. He ignited the Panthers in the opening quarter with hard drives to the basket and scored 8 of the Panthers 14 points to Kewanee’s 5.
The second quarter was a dog fight as both teams man-to-man pressure caused problems for the offenses. The Panthers only managed 3 free throws and 1 bucket during the eight minutes but they still led 19-13 at intermission.
Connor Keegan was the Panther that stepped up in the third period to carry the load as he found the range on two 3-pointers early in the quarter to keep the Boilermakers chasing. Kewanee did cause a few more turnovers late in the quarter and hit a bomb of their own at the end of the third making it 30-28 EP starting the fourth.
A tie score at 32 all was broken by another Keegan 3 with 3:22 left in the contest and Kewanee didn’t score again. They did have a few chances but couldn’t find the mark. A 3-point shot missed with 8 seconds left and a jump ball resulted in an EP possession. A perfectly executed in bounds play got the ball past the pressure and Gus Schultz was fouled with 1.7 left. He made one to make the final 36-32.
Coach Ryan Winckler was pleased with the Panthers patience against the Boiler pressure all night and ecstatic with the EP defense, especially during crunch time preventing Kewanee from any open looks. A great week of some intense practices paid off.
Keegan led the Panthers with 12 points and Milem added 10.
The Panthers are off until next Friday when they host Morrison in Erie.
The JV Panthers fell to a very good Kewanee squad 47-16. The younger Panthers host their portion of the Warkins Classic playing Saturday at 9AM and noon in Erie.
