The Pekin (IL) varsity basketball team will host a conference game against Morton (IL) on Friday, January 31, at 7 PM.

Pekin vs Morton Game Info:

What: Illinois High School Basketball
Who: Pekin (IL) vs Morton (IL)
When: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Pekin Community High School
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Pekin vs Morton

As the high school basketball season progresses, the Morton and Pekin teams are set to face off once again in a highly anticipated conference game on Friday, January 31, 2025. With Morton coming off a dominant 75-47 victory over Pekin last month, the teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting contest. Here’s a breakdown of the two teams’ performance and key factors to watch in their upcoming match.

Team Overview

Morton Mustangs (24-25)

• Overall Record: 16-5
• Conference Record: 8-1
• Home Record: 5-1
• Away Record: 5-0
• Neutral Record: 6-4
• Points For (PF): 1,239
• Points Against (PA): 932
• Win Percentage: .762
• Conference Win Percentage: .889

The Morton Mustangs have been a powerhouse in the 2024-25 season, boasting a strong 16-5 overall record. Their impressive 8-1 conference record shows their dominance in league play, and they remain undefeated on the road with a perfect 5-0 away record. Morton’s offense has been high-powered, averaging 59.0 points per game, led by strong scoring across all four quarters.

Pekin Dragons (24-25)

• Overall Record: 8-12
• Conference Record: 1-8
• Home Record: 7-6
• Away Record: 1-5
• Neutral Record: 0-1
• Points For (PF): 1,108
• Points Against (PA): 1,139
• Win Percentage: .400
• Conference Win Percentage: .111

The Pekin Dragons have struggled throughout the season with a 8-12 overall record, and their conference record of 1-8 leaves them near the bottom of the league standings. Their performance has been inconsistent, and they have found it challenging to keep up with tougher competition. Despite a solid home record of 7-6, Pekin has faced difficulties on the road and in neutral-site games. The team has averaged 55.4 points per game, but they have been vulnerable to giving up big scoring runs, as evidenced by their point differential.

Scoring Averages by Quarter

When comparing the team’s scoring averages per quarter, Morton has been more consistent and has outscored Pekin in each period of the game:

• Morton: Q1 (12.2), Q2 (14.4), Q3 (11.2), Q4 (14.0) | Total: 59.0 points
• Pekin: Q1 (15.8), Q2 (13.3), Q3 (13.5), Q4 (12.3) | Total: 55.4 points

While Pekin tends to start strong with a 15.8-point average in the first quarter, Morton has shown greater consistency and depth, especially in the second and fourth quarters. Morton’s balanced scoring across all four periods gives them an edge in maintaining a steady offensive attack, whereas Pekin has struggled to maintain their momentum throughout the game.

Recent Head-to-Head Performance

In their last matchup on December 17, 2024, Morton triumphed with a dominant 75-47 victory at Pekin. The Mustangs led the game from start to finish, showcasing their superior offensive and defensive play. This result was consistent with the teams’ contrasting records and performances throughout the season.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents, but the results have been significantly different. Morton has compiled a strong 10-1 record against these shared foes, while Pekin has struggled with a 1-10 record. For example:

• Canton: Morton won 66-31, Pekin won 55-42
• Metamora: Morton lost 52-46, Pekin lost 61-46
• Hersey: Morton won 63-44, Pekin lost 63-46

These disparities in results highlight the significant difference in the level of competition the teams have been able to handle.

Key Matchup: January 31, 2025

As the two teams meet again, Morton’s strong overall play and excellent road record position them as the favorites to extend their win streak over Pekin. Pekin will need to improve on their defense and find ways to capitalize on their early-game success if they hope to upset Morton in this matchup. With Morton averaging a solid 59.0 points per game and their deep roster contributing to balanced scoring, Pekin faces a tough challenge to keep pace.

Conclusion

Morton has been the more consistent and dominant team this season, and with a 16-5 record, they will look to continue their success in conference play. Pekin, on the other hand, will need to bounce back from a string of tough losses and show more resilience to make this matchup competitive. As the two teams square off on January 31, Morton looks poised to add another win to their impressive season, but Pekin will undoubtedly fight hard for a chance at redemption.