Panthers Open Conference Schedule With a Win

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Foul trouble was a concern early on, but Pinckneyville battled through adversity and came away with a 60-49 victory over Anna-Jonesboro on Friday night, the first of two big road tests for the Panthers this weekend.

The Panthers' leading scorer on the year, Drew Dudek, had three early fouls and was held without a point until the fourth quarter. Nathan Morton, playing for the first time this season, picked up some of the slack with 13 points off the bench and was joined in double figures by Shay Kellerman (10 points) and Landon Chandler, whose 12 points all came on three-pointers.

Pinckneyville was ahead 27-22 at the half, but five regulars had two or more personal fouls.

An 11-0 Panther run in the third, capped off with a three by Chandler, ran the Pinckneyville lead to 40-27, and the Wildcats were never able to get back within single digits.

The win improved the Panthers' record to 3-1 (1-0) while A-J dropped to 4-2.

St. Louis (Vashon) awaits the Panthers on Saturday at 12:30 during the Marion Shootout. For more on both games, see Monday's Du Quoin Evening Call sports page.

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