The KCII Area Game of the Week Tuesday, saw the Hillcrest Academy Raven boys and girls basketball teams come up short in both ends of a doubleheader at Pekin.

With a chance to clinch at least a share of the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division title, the Raven boys comeback bid fell short 54-42. The Panthers pounced early, building an 8-2 lead. Eleven straight from the Ravens put them up 13-11 after one quarter. The Pekin answer in the second gave them a 28-23 lead at half. Neither team scored for the first four minutes out of intermission, with Pekin winning the third 12-5 to grow their advantage to a dozen. It was as large as 14 with under six minutes to go when the Hillcrest comeback began. The Ravens cut the deficit to 44-40 with around two minutes to go, but Pekin finished strong, scoring 10 of the last 12, to put the game away. The Panthers won the glass by eight and turnovers 18-16. Cole Millikin, 1A’s leading three point shooter had a game-high 19 for the Panthers, including four long balls. The Ravens had a trio in double figures with Kale Bailey at 13 points, Rowan Miller 11 and Gibson Scott 10. The loss is the first in conference this year for the Ravens who drop to 14-2 on the season and 13-1 in league play. Hillcrest still has a chance to lock up back-to-back division titles with a win next time out over Louisa-Muscatine on Senior Night Friday in Kalona. The Panthers are 14-3 on the year and 10-3 in conference.

The girls game also saw Pekin get out fast and the Panthers played from in front the rest of the night in a 49-31 win. Pekin scored the first eight of the game as the Ravens went through a five and a half minute scoring drought. The Panthers were on top 14-3 after one and 32-15 at half. Each team scored 16 after break, with the Raven defense putting the Panthers through a six minute scoring drought to start the fourth, cutting the lead to 13, but were unable to get any closer. Anna Hadley’s 18 point, 12 rebound double double was a game high for Pekin, with Abby Guise adding a dozen points for the Panthers. Hillcrest got 15 from Claire Withrow, 13 points, including three threes in the first half. The Ravens drop to 5-12 with the loss, 3-11 in conference as Pekin improves to 10-7 overall and 9-5 in league play.