Girls Prep Roundup: Lady Panthers Steamroll A-J
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Honoring Mandi Kellerman, Becky Vanderjack and Leah Eisenhauer prior to the game, Pinckneyville Community High School's Girls Basketball team made its Senior Night one to remember Thursday.
The Lady Panthers blasted Anna-Jonesboro 80-30 in Thomas Gymnasium, notching their 18th win in 25 starts.
Pinckneyville could gain victory #19- and move closer to a second consecutive 20-win campaign-by beating Du Quoin at 5 p.m. Friday.
"Hopefully we can continue to play at this level," PCHS coach Alan Engelhardt said. "I think we are starting to peak at just the right time. "Defensively we got better as the game went on and our pressure defense really wore them down."
Pinckneyville turned a 15-8 first quarter lead into a 70-26 advantage as the final period began.
Dani Jenkel scored all of her game and season-high 22 points in the second and third quarters, nailing six three-point baskets. Emily Miller added 16 more points and Kellerman hit for 13. Becky Vanderjack and Brianna Sanders each netted seven points.
As a team, PCHS hit what's believed to be a school-record 14 three-pointers in the contest.
"It was nice to honor our three seniors," Engelhardt said. "Their dedication has led us to a lot of success."
Kellerman and Vanderjack are four-year varsity letter winners. Eisenhauer is in her second season of varsity play and scored two points against A-J.
Pinckneyville is 18-8 overall and 6-3 in River-to-River Conference play.
SENIOR NIGHT AT EHS
Senior center Mallory Winthrop was honored before tip-off as Elverado lost 60-42 against Trico. She ended up matching Danielle Stephenson of Trico for game-high honors with a dozen points in the contest.
Sami Hicks added 11 points and Courtney Morse nine more for the Lady Falcons, who trailed at each quarter-stop by margins of 13-12, 31-23 and 47-33.
Saturday, Elverado plays its "Diamond Duels" game at Eldorado. Start time is 11 a.m.
Monday, EHS begins tournament play in the Class 1A Sesser Regional against Sesser-Valier/Waltonville. Game time will be 8 o'clock.
The Lady Falcons are 3-21 and finished BDC, West play with an 0-10 record.
SPARTA HANDLES Du QUOIN, 58-24.
Held scoreless in the first quarter, the Lady Indians (1-20, 0-9) lost for a 20th straight time. The final score was 58-24.
Freshman guard Jessica Hirsch netted 14 of Du Quoin's points.
Keawna Anders-another frosh-was the lone Lady Indian besides Hirsch to score more than three points. She finished with four.
Sparta's records are 19-7 and 7-3.
Du Quoin's post season play starts against Z-R-C Monday at the West Frankfort Class 2A Regional.