JOLIET – The Roundup Panthers swept a road doubleheader Friday night in Joliet to keep pace at the top of the 4B standings.
The boys game came down to the final seconds, as Roundup got a steal and bucket with 16 seconds to play to take a 52-51 lead. Joliet had a chance to win but missed an open shot at the basket as time expired, according to head coach John Nelson.
The win moves Roundup to 7-2 overall, 3-2 in District 4B play. It was Joliet’s first conference loss, as it falls to 3-1 in the 4B, and 4-5 overall.
Roundup’s girls needed a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to put away the J-Hawks, who clawed back from a 12-point halftime deficit by holding the Panthers scoreless in the third. Roundup led 23-11 at half but couldn’t find a way past Joliet’s press defense, going scoreless for the first nine minutes of the second half.
The J-Hawks’ aggressive style allowed them to tie it at 23 early in the 4th but also caused them to rack up fouls quickly and put the Panthers into the bonus early in the quarter. Roundup made four free throws and Meghan Eiselein and Chloe Cota finally made two shots from the field to put the Panthers ahead for good.
Eiselein led the team with 12 points, while Cota added 10. Skyler Wright led Joliet with nine.
Roundup moves to 6-2 overall, 5-0 in the 4B. Joliet falls to 2-7, 1-3.
