LENA — The Lena-Winslow Panthers know they have a good boys basketball team.
If others weren't aware, then Friday night’s result should make it clear.
The Panthers beat No. 3-ranked East Dubuque 64-59, becoming just the second team this season to hand the Warriors (19-2, 4-2) a loss.
“We come in every game thinking we’re going to win,” said Le-Win junior Parker Magee, who had a team-high 18 points. “We’re the best team that takes the floor no matter what, so it’s just a matter of if we bring it or not.”
And bring it they did against East Dubuque, which returned virtually the same team that advanced to supersectionals a year ago. The Panthers (13-5, 4-1) had to work to hold the Warriors off after building a lead as large as 10 points in the third quarter, but they made key plays in one way or another whenever they needed to.
“Every time things looked a little shaky for us, somebody stepped up and made a play,” Le-Win coach Kyle Benson said, “whether it was a shot or a defensive play or a rebound."
Cade Benson added 12 points and Sean Ormiston had 10 for the Panthers, who established control thanks to some sharpshooting. But Le-Win preserved the victory by playing strong defense against a dangerous offensive team. Layne Boyer led all scorers with 30 points for the Warriors.
“We know they’re great shooters from the perimeter and inside, so we had to step up our defense,” senior Ty Chrisman said. “Our coach always preaches defense is going to win the game. In all sports it’s like that, and I think that’s what it came down to.”
Le-Win had lost two of its previous three games after starting the season 11-3, but the Panthers’ performance against one of the best teams in their conference and in all of 1A should bode well for them going forward.
“I thought our kids responded to the level of play that East Dubuque brought,” Kyle Benson said. “If you don’t, they’re going to make you look pretty bad. We haven’t been playing really well lately, so to see us respond the way that we did is very encouraging.”
Adam Kradle: 815-987-1388; akradle@rrstar.com; @AdamJKradle