BOYS BASKETBALL: Panthers improve to 2-0 at Kaskaskian Classic

Pinckneyville got 18 points from Clayton Houghland and 11 from J.C. Moll - 9 on three-pointers - as the Panthers pulled away for a 46-32 win over Hillsboro on Wednesday night at the Kaskaskian Classic in Carlyle.

Defense owned the first period with the two teams heading to the quarter break knotted up at 6-6. Houghland and Sam Simpson owned the second period, combining for 14 of the Panthers' 19 points as they built a 25-20 lead heading to the half.

PCHS put the game away with a 16-6 third quarter, hitting four threes - two by Houghland, two by Moll.

Simpson added 8 points for Pinckneyville, Alex Howard had 4, Grant Jausel 3 and Cale Jausel 2. Drake Paden led Hillsboro with 10 points.

The Panthers (2-0) and Woodlawn (2-0) meet on Thursday night at the tournament with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off to decide the winner of Pool B. The winner moves into Saturday's championship game at 7:30 p.m., the loser falls into the third place matchup at 6 p.m.