The Lone Tree girls basketball team got off to a slow start Tuesday, Jan. 28 at home against Pekin and they were not able to crack the win column in a 66-54 setback.

Lone Tree fell behind 8-1 to the Panthers. Kasey Chown helped to get the Lions into the contest with a pair of putbacks, including one while she was falling to the ground, to pull the Lions within two at 11-9. Madeline Jacque hit a pair of 3-pointers in the closing minutes as Lone Tree trailed 18-15 after one quarter.

Jacque and Sara Branson’s back-to-back baskets kept the Lions within three at 26-23, but Pekin extended the lead to 8 at 36-28 by halftime.

Pekin opened the second half on a 13-4 run to take their biggest lead at 49-32 near the end of the third quarter. Jacque and Madelyn McCullough each made 3-pointers in the final minute to pull the Lions within 51-38 by quarter’s end.

Pekin’s lead grew to as much as 20 in the final quarter before the Lions closed the scoring on an 11-3 run.

Jacque hit four 3-pointers on her way to a team-high 20 points. Chown delivered a double-double effort of 11 points and 12 rebounds and Holley Johnson added 10 points.

Lone Tree fell 57-45 two nights later at Wapello. Friday against Winfield-Mount Union, the Lions stormed out to a 22-8 lead after a quarter en route to a 55-42 victory.