BASKETBALL: Two down, two to go for #204
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Runs of 7-0 and 9-0 during the second quarter helped carry Pinckneyville (District #204) into Thursday's state semifinal as the Tigers pounced on Bartelso 46-39 on Monday evening at Rend Lake College.
In the first period, the Tigers made it clear they wanted to establish center Caleb Dahn's presence in the paint. After Sam Simpson banked in a short jumper for the game's first points, Dahn had the remaining ten for #204 in the opening quarter of play, going 6-for-8 at the free throw line and also scoring on a pair of put-backs.
After the Braves fought back with the last four points of the first, Jaceb Jackson hit a three-pointer to start the scoring in the second, and also spark a 7-0 run by the Tigers.
After being ahead 25-15 at the half, Pinckneyville tried to put the game away right out of the locker rooms in the second half Dahn hitting a pair of shots and Layton McNew sinking a three-pointer to complete a 9-0 run overall for the Tigers.
Bartelso made a run, but it was too little, too late. Logan Kohrmann sank a three and was fouled with 1:34 to go in the game, then added the free throw to cut #204's lead to 41-33, but Dahn hit a pair of free throws and Simpson added a lay-up that beat the Bartelso press late in the game as the Tigers held on to advance.
"Lieutenant" Dahn led the way with 22 points for Pinckneyville, Simpson added 9, Jackson and Brian Taylor 6, McNew 3. Dahn completed the double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds, McNew and Taylor each had 4 assists.
Pinckneyville (25-2) will meet Rome in the semifinals of the SIJHSAA Class S state tournament with the game tipping off around 7:15 p.m. on Thursday at Rend Lake College, following the other semifinal between Century and Odin.
Century squeaked by Ashley-St. Michael 57-56, Odin knocked of Hoyleton 40-36 and Rome hammered New Hope 58-25 to advance into Thursday's semifinals. The Class S championship will be held Saturday at 4:00 p.m. following the 2:30 third place game.
Coach Dennis Ginn's #204 Tigers can come home no worse than fourth after Monday night's victory.