BASKETBALL: Panthers open BIT with strong performance
BENTON, IL - Pinckneyville's winning streak at the Benton Invitational Tournament is at 41 consecutive games following Monday night's 53-39 victory over the host Rangers at Rich Herrin Gymnasium.
After failing to score for the first time all season in the Panthers' last game on Friday, senior Chris Priebe led the way for PCHS on Monday with 13 points while fellow-upperclassman Luke Miller finished with 11.
"I thought Chris played a lot smarter in the post," said Pinckneyville head coach Bob Waggoner, "he used some different moves in there, played more aggressively. I thought overall this was probably Luke Miller's best all-around ball game - offensively, defensively, decision making. He really looked like a good point guard out there tonight."
The Panthers' defensive pressure made open looks almost non-existent for the Rangers, who failed to make a field goal during the second quarter when Pinckneyville outscored them 18-5 following a 12-0 run to begin the period.
"That was pretty much the difference in the ball game," said Waggoner, who has yet to lose a single game in Rich Herrin Gym in his six seasons with PCHS as head coach. "I told our kids that if we continue to put defensive pressure on them, we thought that they would have problems with that. I thought it wore them down."
Priebe had nine of his points during the Panthers' big second quarter, five during the 12-0 spurt that finally ended with free throws from Cole Forby with 2:19 to play in the half.
The Rangers were able to get within seven at 31-24 after baskets from Dylan Sheeks and Nathaneal Higgins in the middle of the third quarter, but Pinckneyville had an answer. Priebe stuck back a rebound and Miller and Tristan Fisher each hit a pair of free throws before the period ended and Benton didn't get closer than the eleven points they trailed by heading to the fourth.
"We really guarded them well," said Waggoner. "They got a little bit late on us with some high screens, we didn't talk real well towards the end, we got a little tired, but at the same time I thought we did a great job of keeping (Higgins) in front of us and really limiting their second chance opportunities on the boards. The first half especially, we really shut them off on the glass and that was a big part of it."
In all, eight Panthers got into the scorebook against the Rangers. Fisher finished with 8 points, Nolan Luke 7, Dylan Hardin 6, Sterling Bejma and Brian Taylor 3 and Caleb Dahn 2.
Higgins led all scorers with 15 points for Benton, Sheeks had 10, Forby 6, Daulton Ward 5, Mat Buntin 2 and Austin Myers 1.
In other BIT action on Monday, Carlyle knocked off Okawville 47-40 and Sesser-Valier held on to beat Hamilton County 51-45.
Tournament action resumes on Wednesday with Hamilton County vs. Okawville at 6:00 p.m., Pinckneyville and Carlyle at 7:30, followed by Benton and Sesser-Valier at 9:00.
Pinckneyville (12-7) has not lost at the BIT since January 24, 2004. The school's record at the event since going 0-5 in 2002 is a whopping 49-2.