BOYS BASKETBALL: Panthers fall at Waterloo, 49-39

Pinckneyville led early in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's non-conference game at Waterloo, but the Bulldogs made enough free throws down the stretch to pull away late for a 49-39 victory over the Panthers.

PCHS played without one of their two main scoring options inside, Sam Simpson, who was unavailable for the game.

The Panthers overcame a cold shooting first quarter to take a 21-20 lead into the half, and after Clayton Houghland hit a three-pointer for the first points of the fourth quarter, Pinckneyville was on top 34-32.

But the PCHS offense again went cold for the next four minutes, allowing Waterloo to go on a 9-0 run.

"We had a lot of great looks," said PCHS head coach Bob Waggoner, "had a lot of lay-ups, we just missed them. You have to make shots, we just didn't get it done."

"They got in the lane anytime they wanted, we didn't get down and guard. We were well-prepared, we just didn't execute."

The Bulldogs made their first eight attempts at the free throw line in the final period as the Panthers were forced to foul to stay alive.

"I thought we did a great job extending the game, we just missed shots again," Waggoner said. "We did what we needed to do to give ourselves a chance. We just never could get over the hump."

Houghland, who picked up his third foul just before halftime and ended up fouling out late in the game, led the Panthers with 15 points. Grant Jausel was also in double figures for PCHS with 10 points. J.C. Moll added 5 points, Kyle Luke 4, Alex Howard 3 and Hayden Carter 2.

Pinckneyville (10-4) hits the road on Friday to take on the Nashville Hornets in a battle of the two teams that remain unbeaten in the SIRR's Mississippi Division.