UTHS and Moline Basketball Teams Battle in the Panther Den
School spirit filled United Township High School last night. The excitement and pride must have been felt for miles in neighborhoods surrounding the recently updated building.
Western Big 6 rivals, United Township High School and Moline High School, played their last conference game for the 2019-2020 season in a packed Panther Den last night. The two teams, which were both tied in their conference at 5-8, showed up ready to compete Friday night.
The big high school showdown was sponsored by TBK Bank in East Moline. TBK employees handed out free swag and rally towels to fans, as well as presenting $1,000 checks to each school.
Things then got nostalgic with UTHS’ Senior Night ceremony. Those basketball players and cheerleaders who will be saying goodbye to their high school careers in the near future received cheers from both teams of fans. Their academic and extra-curricular successes from the last four years created impressive introductions, courtesy of the legendary Bob Feller.
After thrilling and electrifying player introductions, both teams hit the court with determination. Starting out strong, the Moline Maroons only allowed 1 point in the 1st quarter. This defensive battle of the wills ended the first half with Moline in the lead, 19-10. UTHS came back strong in the second half, forcing the Maroons to step up their game. In the end, Moline came out as the victor by only 4 points over the Panthers with a final score of 38-34.
This long-time rivalry between East Moline and Moline once again provided fans with an unforgettable evening of excitement. Players, their families and friends, alumni, community members and Superfans all came together to show their support for the hard work and determination these high school students and coaches practice every day. And no matter which team fans were rooting for, everyone enjoyed the hype and excitement of the experience!
