BASKETBALL: Lady Panthers get by Benton
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Three Lady Panthers finished in double figures and the bench accounted for 39 points as Pinckneyville got by Benton 55-48 last night at Rich Herrin Gymnasium.
"We knew what they were going to try to do against us, but we let them do what they wanted in the first half on offense, and it took us until midway through the third quarter to adjust to their half-court trap," said PCHS girls' head coach Alan Engelhardt.
The Rangerettes took a 29-24 lead into the half as several of Pinckneyville's players fought early foul trouble.
"We got ourselves into serious foul trouble in the first half because we didn't move our feet, didn't check out well, and didn't adjust to how the game was being called," said Engelhardt.
Dani Jenkel (14 points), Kortney Crawford (10) and Taylor Kuhnert (10) provided the bulk of the help off the bench, with Jenkel seeing time at point guard and Crawford scoriing six in a row to end the third quarter.
"I would never have thought we would play Dani Jenkel at point guard for extended minutes," Engelhardt said, "but she stepped up and helped us through the end of the second and the third quarters."
"Kortney Crawford had a big six point run to end the third quarter, and she provided some great minutes guarding their ball-handler when none of the other girls would. Taylor Kuhnert also did a nice job of rebounding and guarding the post."
Mo Ramsey added 6 points, Taylor Cicardi 4, Lindsey Winter 3, Katrina Henson 3, Tyler Flowers 2, Haley Simpson 2, and Heather McDaniel 1.
"One thing is for sure; we have to get better as a team on the defensive end if we are going to have a chance against Nashville," said Engelhardt.
The Lady Panthers (4-2) are at Nashville next Tuesday (7:45 p.m.)