After a few weeks off, the Panthers (6-4) resume their 2022-23 season on Thursday night against Wilbur Wright.
Conference play is getting closer as the Skyway opener is on January 10th. Meanwhile, the Panthers are winners in three of the past four games.
They will look to ride their 2022 momentum into a successful run before the gauntlet begins shortly ahead. They have 11 scheduled games in January, totaling more than they have had in the season.
The time off often helps others to recharge their batteries and focus on what lies ahead. The Panthers will have a pair of non-conference matchups before a third matchup at Oakton.
"We've had a lot of time over the last two weeks to get back to the basics and improve on the fundamentals. It will be good to get back to competing with two games in three days," head coach Jon Rush said.
The dog days of baseball are often a challenge, and basketball in the winter has plenty of games on top of rescheduling. We will see three or four games coming up stacked in one week.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will play four games in seven days at the end of January. There are matchups against Waubonsee, Moraine Valley, Aurora University, and Elgin from January 24-31.
The upcoming three games in six days will test the Panthers. All four of those Skyway games could decide a conference crown, with Region IV seeding more than likely being impacted.
Two of the stars in the season have been guards Manny Rodriguez and Matas Deksnys. The dynamic duo has each dropped 159 points, averaging 15.9 on the season.
In their last victory, the Panthers survived at home in a thrilling matchup against Rock Valley. Rodriguez helped lead the way with a team-high 20 points. It tied for a game-high with George Williams of Rock Valley, but Rodriguez had the last laugh.
He pulled off the victory with a game-high six made three-pointers, many of which were clutch shots down the stretch. Deksnys hit one of the more vital shots in the win, which helped add to his 19-point total.
Most teams lack multiple players capable of hitting double-digit three-pointers, but that is what occurred in the impressive victory. While it was the first time the pair combined for 10-plus three-pointers, expect more in 2023.
The Panthers are in the Top 50 in rebounding margin, makes per game from three-point territory, and three-point percentage. Limiting the opposition to one shot has been vital to their success.
Their opponent is Wilbur Wright, and they enter the matchup at 6-10 with victories in their past three games.
A strength for them is their three-point ability. They rank in the Top 50 for three-pointers made, attempted, and from a percentage. Having both teams shoot lights out could give us fireworks to start the second half of the season.
Closing out and running them off the three-point line will be a defensive key, but the Panthers have shown the ability to play winning basketball in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers will begin their 2023 run on Thursday night with a scheduled tip time of 6:30 pm at the Henry J. Vais Gymnasium.
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