One of Central Illinois’ top teams faced a stiff test on Tuesday night, as Warrensburg-Latham battled a determined Pana Panthers squad in a Class 2A regional semifinal played at St. Joseph-Ogden. With both teams traveling a considerable distance, the matchup had the feel of a high-stakes postseason clash from the opening tip.
Warrensburg-Latham came out showcasing its chemistry and experience, attacking the rim and capitalizing against Pana’s man-to-man defense. The Cardinals built an early advantage, leading by eight after the first quarter and setting the tone with crisp ball movement and strong finishes inside.
Pana responded with urgency in the second quarter. Playing at a faster pace, the Panthers repeatedly got into the paint and converted quality looks, trimming the deficit to just 25–23 by halftime. Their energy and physical play kept the game within reach and put pressure on Warrensburg-Latham heading into the break.
That pressure was met with a decisive adjustment. Coming out of halftime, Warrensburg-Latham shifted to a zone defense that immediately disrupted Pana’s offensive rhythm. The Panthers struggled to penetrate, and the Cardinals used stops and transition opportunities to pull away. By the end of the third quarter, Warrensburg-Latham had extended its lead to 45–28.
Pana attempted to counter in the fourth, but the zone continued to limit clean looks. A pair of late three-pointers from Cash Lynch provided brief sparks, yet the gap proved too large to overcome. Warrensburg-Latham closed the game with poise, securing a 67–43 victory.
Bonds led the Cardinals with 18 points, while Eastyn McKenzie added 14 points along with multiple assists to guide the offense. For Pana, Cash Lynch left everything on the floor in his final game wearing a Panthers uniform, pouring in 26 points in a heartfelt performance.
The loss closed the book on a strong season for Pana, which finished 21–12 overall and 6–3 in conference play. Warrensburg-Latham, meanwhile, moves on to the regional championship game, where it will face St. Joseph-Ogden on Friday with a title on the line.
Cash Lynch with a tough bucket for the Panthers
Jax Czaikowski grabs the dime out of the air from Maddyx Angel for Pana.
Brennon Bonds with the finish off the Eastyn Mckenzie steal for Warrensburg-Latham
Eastyn Mckenzie TRIPLE for Warrensburg-Latham
Eastyn Mckenzie talks Regional Win for Warrensburg-Latham
Coach Tim Martin talks win for Warrensburg-Latham