01-21-09
BY JACK BULLOCK
BENTON - Although it certainly won’t go down in the books as the prettiest win in the storied history of the Pinckneyville Panthers – it will count just as much as any of the school’s three state championship triumphs.

The Panthers scraped and claw their way to a 35-27 win where offense surrendered to defense and rebounding from the opening tip to the final horn.

An when the teams left the floor – Coach Bob Waggoner’s club was sitting at 2-0 in the BIT.

The four-time defending champions allowed the Rockets just seven total rebounds in the second half and despite a poor shooting night (10-of-32 overall) Pinckneyville won its 24th consecutive game at this long-standing event.

The Panthers hit 9-of-10 free throws in the final frame to improve to 13-4 on the season.

The ever improving Panthers were led by Nathan Morton with 10-points – the only player on either side that reached double-digits in the scorebook.

Morton netted all of his points in the second half as Pinckneyville did just enough right things to overcome all the bad.

“Whether or not you come ready to play offensively you can always bring your defensive effort and you can rebound and we have won a lot of games this year because of that and tonight was one of them,” said Coach Waggoner. “We are limited a bit offensively compared to some of our past teams but I like our effort. I believe that most nights if we win the rebounding battle then we will win the game.”

That defensive effort forced Okawville into 18 turnovers and just an 11-of-34 shooting evening.

The Rockets were an ugly 1-of-14 from behind the arc – a place that Coach Kraus’ club is usually pretty good shooting from.

“In the last three minutes of the game we have four or five possessions where we didn’t get what we wanted,” said Okawville head coach Jon Kraus. “I thought there was a time in the fourth quarter that we had a one-point lead and had the ball. We have a couple of possessions where we could have extended that lead. But we didn’t. You have to give them (Pinckneyville) a lot of credit. They put a lot of pressure on us tonight and forced us into some mistakes.”

The Rockets led 12-11 at the half in spite of ten turnovers and hitting just 5-of-16 field goals.

That result came in part from Pinckneyville not hitting any shots, either.

The Panthers were just 4-of-18 in the opening 16-minutes.

Coach Waggoner’s team led 11-6 with 3:49 remaining in the second quarter following a 3-pointer from Dustin Winter – who finished the contest with eight points – and a score from Morton underneath the basket on a pass from Bryant Lively.

However Okawville scored the final six points of the half to secure a one-point lead at intermission.

Two buckets by Devin Clary sandwiched around a lay in by Cullan Barkau put Okawville up 12-11 at the break.

But in the second half the physical play of Pinckneyville wore down the Rockets.

“We talk to our kids about wearing teams down and you won’t see the results until the third or fourth quarter. We want to get into their (Okawville’s) bench because we felt like our bench is a little bit deeper than theirs,” Waggoner added.

Pinckneyville hit a trio of trifectas in the third quarter.

Winter, Morton and Derek Kellerman all found the mark from behind the arc.

Morton also added a drive down the baseline in the Panthers’ 8-2 run to make it 19-14 with 3:26 remaining.

Okawville got its final lead of the contest following a 6-0 push with Clary, Weeke and Zack Brammeier each scoring in the run that resulted in a 25-24 Rockets advantage.

Pinckneyville’s defensive effort took its toll in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter.

Coach Waggoner’s squad outscored the Rockets 11-2. Pinckneyville hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 3:48 while Okawville committed seven fourth quarter turnovers.

“Our kids take pride in trying to get better and having a successful season and where we are at I don’t think a lot of people predicted us to do as well as we have so far,” Waggoner explained. “I think these guys have sort of been overlooked because of the good group in front of them from last season. I think they have enjoyed that challenge.”

Following Morton in scoring for Pinckneyville was Winter with eight and Shay Kellerman with six.

Barkau led Okawville with eight points and Weeke with seven in the low-scoring affair.

Pinckneyville will head back to action on Friday night where they will face 2-0 Benton while Okawville (0-2, 7-11 overall) must regroup and tackle Hamilton County (1-1) also on Friday night.

“Our kids fought pretty hard tonight but Pinckneyville is a tough team,” added Coach Kraus. “If we can get this kind of effort the next three games and maybe hit a few more shots we could be 3-2 when we leave here.”

Pinckneyville (35) – Dudek 0 0 2-2 2, Winter 0 2 2-2 8, Bathon 0 0 0-0 0, D. Kellerman 0 1 0-0 3, Pyatt 1 0 0-0 2, LIvely 0 0 0-0 0, Sims 1 0 2-4 4, Morton 3 1 1-4 10, S. Kellerman 1 0 4-4 6.
2FG-6, 3FG-4, FT-11-16, PF-12.
Okawville (27) – Barkau 3 0 2-3 8, Weeke 1 1 2-4 7, Leadendecker 0 0 0-0 0, N. Frederking 0 0 0-0 0, Z. Brammeier 1 0 0-0 2, Clary 3 0 0-0 6, T. Brammeier 2 0 0-0 4, Lohman 0 0 0-0 0, J. Frederking 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-10, 3FG-1, FT-4-7, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

HAMILTON COUNTY 65, CAIRO 63
The Foxes hung on for a win despite a comback by Cairo who trailed for most of the second half.

Up just 63-61 with :16.4 left - Kane Smith missed back-to-back free throw attempts.

But Hamilton Cunty forward Shelby Williams grabbed a rebound and stuck it home to give the Foxes a four-point lead.

By the time Cairo got a shot off in the lane by Hershel Graham - Hamilton County didn't have to inbound the ball as time expired.

The Foxes (1-1, 12-5) received 23-points from Seth Thomas in the win. Williams (16) and Smith (12) were also in double-figures.

Graham topped Cairo (0-2, 4-9) with 16-points while Lee Wright and Rodney Woodson added 11 each.

Arthur Williams also tossed home 10 in defeat.

Ham Co. outscored Cairo 16-3 from the foul line.

Cairo (63) – W. Thomas 2 0 0-0 4, Stuckey 1 0 0-0 2, D. Thomas 0 1 0-0 3, Wright 5 0 1-2 11, Johnson 3 0 0-1 6, Woodson 3 1 2-2 11, Williams 5 0 0-1 10, Hill 0 0 0-0 0, Graham 8 0 0-0 16.
2FG-27, 3FG-2, FT-3-6, PF-21.
Hamilton County (65) – Denham 0 0 0-0 0, Hopfinger 0 0 1-2 1, Smith 3 1 3-6 12, Rubenacker 0 0 0-0 0, Irvin 0 2 0-0 6, Thomas 5 2 7-10 23, Williams 6 0 4-7 16, Reyling 0 0 0-0 0, Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Biggerstaff 3 0 1-2 7.
2FG-17, 3FG-5, FT-16-27, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

BENTON 58, CARLYLE 57 (OT)
The Rangers rallied from five points down in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to force an extra session and then got big baskets by Tim Corn and Kyler Smith in the overtime for the victory.

Benton (2-0, 6-11) was paced by Corn with 20-points while Zach LaBuwi added 12.

Benton Caleb Suver added eight points for Coach Matt Wynn's club including a pair of important free throws in the overtime.

Carlyle (1-1, 4-15) was led by Josh Rosol with 15-points while Tony Schaeffer chipped in 14.

Carlyle could have put the Rangers away but were just 20-of-31 from the foul line.

Carlyle (57) – Rosol 2 3 2-5 15, Linton 0 0 1-2 1, Smith 3 1 0-0 9, Schaeffer 3 1 5-8 14, Huels 0 0 5-6 5, Smith 0 0 2-5 2, Meyer 1 0 4-4 6, Kern 2 0 1-1 5. 2FG-11, 3FG-5, FT-20-31, PF-17.
Benton (58) – C. Smith 2 0 0-1 4, Corn 2 4 4-5 20, Suver 3 0 2-2 8, Myers 2 0 2-2 6, K. Smith 2 0 0-4 4, LaBuwi 5 0 2-4 12, Stevens 2 0 0-2 4.
2FG-18, 3FG-4, FT-10-20, PF-23.
Fouled Out – Schaeffer - Carlyle; Stevens - Benton.
Technical Fouls – Stevens - Benton.