The Cairo Pilots proved they can win big last Monday (they won by 55) but on Monday they proved they can win the close ones too. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 71-69 victory over Paducah Tilghman. The win was all the more spectacular given Cairo's disadvantage in MaxPreps's basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 494th in Illinois, while Paducah Tilghman is ranked 196th in Kentucky).
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Cairo to victory, but perhaps none more so than Shanti Taylor, who scored 20 points. Another player making a difference was Aaliyah Wilkerson, who scored 30 points.
The win makes it two in a row for Cairo and bumps their season record up to 8-16. As for Paducah Tilghman, they are on a ten-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 3-16.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Cairo will challenge Central at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. As for Paducah Tilghman, they will head out on the road to challenge McCracken County at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The timing is sure in McCracken County's favor as the team sits on seven straight wins at home while Paducah Tilghman has been banged up by six consecutive losses on the road.
