The Panthers earned an 85-78 home victory over McHenry County on Thursday night to begin 2-0 in Skyway play.
They played with a lead for most of the night, and their balanced offensive attack was a cause of concern for McHenry.
"Versatility and depth is something we pride ourselves on, and we have 8-9 guys that can now impact the game on any given night. Our goal is to have multiple guys in double figures because guys play harder when the ball moves offensively," head coach Jon Rush said.
There were five Panthers that posted double figures, and the bench combined for 21 points. Manny Rodriguez wears a mask to protect his nose, but they may need to give him a cape.
The star guard has been on fire since December, posting double figures in seven straight games while averaging 17.6 points per game. Making 24 three-pointers since then has allowed others to get open looks when defenses collapse on Rodriguez.
Dropping a team-high 18 points, Rodriguez had help from his backcourt that provided plenty of fireworks to pull off the victory.
Lonnel Strickland has been one of the top players on the team and is developing as one of the premier Skyway players with his ability to attack the paint with authority.
"Lonnel is a fearless competitor and a student of the game. He is one of the guys that I can truly say comes in every day looking to get better at something. He provides some toughness and grit to this team that we need. He's a player that impacts the game on both ends of the floor," Rush said.
Strickland posted 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 29 minutes of action. Shooting 6-for-14 from the field with only a pair of three-point attempts shows how valuable he is on the squad.
There is a difference between playing hero ball and forcing shots up versus contributing to the team. No. 10 has quietly taken care of business and has added another dimension to a talented offensive team.
Matas Deksnys posted double figures for the 12th time on the season, including a pair of three-pointers that helped maintain their lead over McHenry County.
The additions for conference play have been vital toward their 2-0 start. Xavier Spencer played 24 minutes off the bench and made 5-of-6 shots for 12 points. Kyren Gardner contributed by dropping 5 points, and Evan Bush posted 12 points and eight rebounds as a starter.
The Panthers are 2-0 and will have the weekend to rest before hosting Prairie State next Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.
"League play is what matters the most. Our guys understand it's important that we start the right way. Hopefully, we can use this as momentum moving into our Tuesday matchup against Prairie State," Rush said.
Catching fire in January and playing winning basketball has been a joy for Panther nation. If you miss any future home games in person, follow the team on our Facebook page and Youtube. Also, check out GoMCPanthers.com and our social media pages @McAthletics1924 for more upcoming featured recaps, previews, quotes, and all the latest news for Panther hoops.
