BOYS BASKETBALL: Panthers push into Gold Pool at DTHC
In a rematch of a Sectional semifinal this past March, Pinckneyville got 29 points from post players Sam Simpson and Clayton Houghland and hit six three-pointers to put away Roxana 52-37 at the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic on Monday night.
The victory propelled the tournament host Panthers into the championship bracket, where they will meet Gibault (Waterloo) on Tuesday at noon.
Simpson led the Panthers with 15 points, Houghland added 14, but some of the biggest shots of the night came from the hands of the guys on the perimeter. Jackson Brand had three triples and Houghland, Grant Jausel and Kyle Luke also put in three-pointers for PCHS.
"I thought we really did a nice job executing," said Pinckneyville head coach Bob Waggoner. "It's the first time all year where we really tried to just isolate one post player. Not as much movement, just read the defense, work inside out. Our outside guys were in rhythm shooting the ball. It's probably our best basketball game of the year."
"We had more of a team concept. The ball movement was crisper and better, and I feel like our post players really established themselves. The biggest thing was on the defensive end we really guarded well, took away what they like to do."
After taking the lead on an inside bucket from Simpson with 1:36 to go in the first quarter, the Panthers never trailed again. Jausel buried a three at the end of the period to put Pinckneyville up 14-9 through eight minutes.
PCHS led by five with three minutes left in the half when Luke and Brand connected from behind the arc to extend the lead to 27-15 at the break.
Brand hit two more threes in the third period, keeping the Shells at a distance. He finished with 9 points. Jausel added 7 points, Luke 3, and Hayden Carter and Alex Howard each finished with 2. Carter and Simpson led PCHS in rebounding with 4 apiece.
The victory was the seventh in a row for Pinckneyville (9-2). The Panthers are guaranteed to finish no worse than 4th in the tournament for the eighth time in nine years.
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Pinckneyville 49, Red Bud 39</span>
The Panthers got a scare in their 9 a.m. contest with Red Bud when the Musketeers led 13-8 after the opening period, but Pinckneyville outscored them 20-7 in the second quarter and led the rest of the way, going on to win 49-39.
Houghland led PCHS with 12 points and shared the team lead in rebounds with Grant Jausel (8). Simpson added 11 points, Jausel had 9, Luke 6, J.C. Moll 5, Howard 4 and Carter 2. Jausel also led the team in steals with 3.