Basketball returns to Pana on Thursday as the Pana Panthers host their annual Boys Basketball Summer Shootout, welcoming several area programs for a full day of offseason competition.
Games were scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue throughout the afternoon on both the Pana High School main court and the Pana Junior High School gymnasium. Teams from across areas will take part in the event, giving players and coaches another opportunity to prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season.
Among the featured programs competing throughout the day are the Pana Panthers, Central A&M Raiders, St. Teresa Bulldogs, and Sullivan Redskins. Other schools included were Okaw Valley, Raymond Lincolnwood, Hillsboro, Argenta-Oreana, Patoka, Neoga, Carrollton, Flanagan-Cornell, Greenfield Northwestern, Dieterich, Father McGivney, and North Clay.
The Panthers took the floor for three contests during the shootout, facing Carrollton, Flanagan-Cornell, and Dieterich. Central A&M was also slated for three games, matching up against Sullivan, Father McGivney, and North Clay. St. Teresa will compete against Neoga, Okaw Valley, and Patoka, while Sullivan is scheduled to face Raymond Lincolnwood, Central A&M, and Hillsboro.
Like many summer basketball events, Thursday’s shootout was about much more than wins and losses. The games provided coaches with an opportunity to evaluate new lineups, experiment with different rotations, and see how last year’s underclassmen perform alongside this season’s returning upperclassmen in live game situations.
For many players, the event offered valuable varsity experience against unfamiliar opponents while allowing teams to continue developing chemistry well before the winter season officially begins. It also gave younger athletes an opportunity to earn meaningful minutes and demonstrate their growth throughout the offseason.
Each contest consisted of two 16-minute running-clock halves with modified summer rules designed to maximize playing opportunities and keep the day’s schedule moving efficiently. While the format differs from the regular season, the level of competition remained high as area programs continue laying the foundation for the months ahead.
Although the final scores won’t carry postseason implications, the Pana Summer Shootout offers players, coaches, and fans an early look at the area’s emerging talent and provides a preview of what should be an exciting high school basketball season this winter.
Pana Basketball Coach Metzger Talks about Pana Shootout
Pana #11 with a Smooth Layup
Pana #11 with the Shot over the Defender
Pana #11 with the And-1 Layup
Pana #11 with the Open Three Pointer
Pana #21 with the 3 Point Shot beyond the Arch
Pana #40 with the Tip In
CAM #10 going through the Paint for a Layup
CAM #12 with the Smooth Layup
CAM #20 with a Rebound and Bounce Pass to #24 for the Layup
CAM #23 Spins around and charges the basket for the Shot
CAM #24 with the Corner Three
CAM #45 with a Deep Three Pointer
Carrollton #10 with the Nice Layup
Carrollton #13 charging down court for the Layup
Carrolton #22 with the Layup, and gets the And-1
Carrollton #22 with a Three Point Shot
St Teresa #21 with the Rebound and Floater over the Paint
St Teresa #50 with a Three Point Shot
St Teresa #54 with the Mid-Range Jumper
Sullivan #00 getting down court with a the Layup
Sullivan #00 using his body in the Paint to secure the Basket
Sullivan #13 with a 3 Pointer to Start the Game
Sullivan #23 Top of the Key Three Pointer