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The MCS Panthers 8th Grade boys basketball team dropped their opening round game of the Cahokia Conference Tournament held at Columbia Middle School to the SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School Falcons of Waterloo 55-37 on Monday evening.
The favored Falcons took control of the contest early on the strength of their two big forwards who both stand around six foot tall. Their inside game was strong and the Panthers not only had difficulty stopping them but also had trouble generating offense of their own as the Falcons outscored the Panthers 12-4 in the first quarter.
The Panthers fought back in the second quarter as MCS Coach Bryan Weaver made some offensive and defensive changes. Changes in scheme on the floor as well as players sparked the Panthers offense as they tried to close the gap on the Falcons. But while the Panthers offense improved their defense couldn’t stop the potent Falcon offense and MCS trailed by 11 at the half 27-16.
The third quarter picked up where the second had left off as both teams were able to score. But without sustained defensive stops the Panthers were unable to dig themselves out of the eight-point deficit they gained in the first quarter. They drew close several times in the quarter but still trailed by eight points at the end of the quarter 43-31.
The Panthers were still hopeful going into the fourth quarter but the Falcons snuffed out their hopes early in the fourth quarter. Opening the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run the Falcons doubled their lead to sixteen points and while the Falcons heated up the Panthers shooting went cold. The Falcons outscored the Panthers 12-6 in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring and win the contest 55-37.
The Falcons advance to face the Columbia Eagles in the second round while the Panthers will play the Smithton Cougars in the Consolation bracket on Thursday. Thursday’s game could find the Cougars seeking revenge as the Panthers and Cougars have played each other three times this year with the Panthers winning two of those games. The most recent an overtime win for the Panthers in the SPPS Holiday Tournament less than two weeks ago.
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