Panthers Surprise Hornets, Stay Alive in Conference Title Hunt
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ In a River-to-River conference classic that featured seven lead changes and four ties, Nathan Morton sank the game winner for Pinckneyville with just over a second remaining as the Panthers won their eleventh consecutive game, defeating the Horents 38-36 last night at Assembly Hall in Nashville.
"It was just a good, old-fashioned, Pinckneyville-Nashville game," said Panthers' head coach Bob Waggoner of the night's defensive tug-of-war.
"Early in the game Drew Dudek got us a lead, then Cody Sims came in and got us back in the game, and at the end Nathan Morton gets us the win, it's a team effort," Waggoner added
Dudek helped the Panthers to an early lead with three three-pointers in the first period, the third giving Pinckneyville an 11-3 edge.
From that point on, however, Nashville controlled the first half of play on the scoreboard, doing most of their damage from the free throw line. Pinckneyville was whistled for their seventh team foul just moments into the second quarter, putting Nashville into the bonus for the remainder of the half.
"We fought through foul trouble," said Waggoner. "We really could have lost control of the game with the foul trouble they got into."
Morton completed a conventional three-point play for the Panthers only points in the entire second quarter to put Pinckneyville up 14-8, but Zach Wreath responded with a three-pointer that started a 10-0 Hornets run.
David Conner connected from beyond the arc during the run, and also made good on all three free throws after being fouled on another deep attempt.
In all, the Hornets outscored the Panthers 15-3 to end the half, and led 18-14 at the midway point of the game.
Nashville had their biggest lead of the game at 24-16 early in the third after Wreath converted a Panther turnover into an easy layup, but Pinckneyville would find an answer in a quick 6-0 run, finished off with a Cody Sims jump hook.
Dustin Winter's three tied the game at 29-29 in the opening moments of the final period, and Dudek gave the Panthers the lead once again with one-of-two free throws with just under five minutes to go.
Free throws from Brock Pries, and a bucket from Pries a possession later, put the Hornets back on top 35-32, and Morton made a pair for the Panthers to cut the lead to a single point with 2:41 to play.
The Hornets did nothing with it but run off some clock, as Morton came away with the ball with just over a minute to play, and Waggoner called a timeout.
Sims missed his shot with around 35 seconds on the clock, but Morton was there for the putback and the Pinckneyville lead.
Sam Brown made one-of-two at the line to tie it up with 30.8 on the clock, and Dudek handled the ball for Pinckneyville looking for the last shot.
With just under 10 seconds left, Dudek made his move and was able to find Morton on the baseline for an open look. His deep two-pointer sank through the net with 1.3 seconds on the clock, not enough time for anything more than a desperation miss by the Hornets (20-2, 5-1).
"Drew through the pass to him on the money where he could shoot it," commented Waggoner.
Morton's 13 points led the way for Pinckneyville, Dudek added 10.
The Panthers (17-4, 3-2) will see action Saturday at 8:00 against Riverton during the Pinckneyville Shootout at Thomas Gymnasium.