Despite not playing at a high level throughout the night Friday, the Washington boys basketball team prevailed.
The Panthers advanced to 6-0 in the Mid-Illini Conference with a 56-44 win over visiting Pekin at Torry Gymnasium.
Washington’s Mark Roth led all scorers with 18 points, most of which were achieved beyond the three-point arc, where he made five three-pointers.
“The passes I got from my teammates were there all day,” said Roth, “and my bigs were really getting me open, too.”
Roth credited Colton and Connor Underwood with working in the post and creating for the Panther guards.
Pekin typically makes opponents do different things, and this time was no exception.
“I thought we got better and better at times and then we had some breakdowns guarding the ball on defense,” WCHS head coach Kevin Brown said. “I thought we gave up some easy baskets.”
Washington was up 32-19 at the half before the Dragons climbed back in it after holding the home team to eight points in the third quarter.
“Our spacing went bad on us and we decided to go from a two-post offense to a one-post offense and I felt like we got some better spacing,” said Brown of the third quarter.
The Panthers pulled the ball out in the fourth period and wound nearly two minutes off the clock before Pekin fouled.
Colton Underwood chipped in eight points for Washington and Ryan Grebner seven.
Aaron King led the Dragons with 14 points.
The rematch is set for Feb. 19 at Dawson Hawkins Gymnasium.
— Steve Daggs contributed to this story
WCHS 64, Chicago Kenwood 41
The Panthers pulled away from the Broncos in the second half Saturday.
The victory in the Naperville North Shootout was the 10th in the last 11 games for Washington (12-3).
The Panthers outscored Kenwood 35-13 in the second and third quarters after a deadlock at 14 through eight minutes.
Roth was a stalwart from the perimeter again with four treys in a 19-point outing.
Grebner and Connor Underwood joined him in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Grebner hit a trio of threes.
Colton Underwood added seven points for Washington, which followed East Peoria on the floor in a three-game event.
