BASKETBALL: Loss to Okawville leaves PCHS 3-2 at BIT
BENTON, IL - Pinckneyville still had a chance to leave the 40th Annual Benton Invitational Tournament with second place after their 41-game winning streak at the event was snapped early last week, but Okawville had too much firepower, outscoring the Panthers in every quarter of their 52-35 win on Saturday night at Rich Herrin Gymnasium.
Pinckneyville was playing without sophomore Brian Taylor, who injured an ankle late in the Panthers' loss to Carlyle on Wednesday. Taylor's speed was missed and his absence left Pinckneyville thin at guard.
"I thought our energy level was bad," said PCHS head coach Bob Waggoner. "I thought today we showed some fatigue. I thought our depth at guard really started to show tonight, we didn't have the ability to pressure and go do some things. We missed (Taylor) giving us that extra guard being able to go pressure the ball and to turn people. I thought tonight was the first time that we really looked tired, and played tired. There's not much you can do about that."
The loss was just the second of Waggoner's career at Benton with the first coming to tournament-winner Carlyle on Wednesday.
The Panthers were still in it midway through the second quarter after a baseline drive and layup by Dylan Hardin and a backdoor cut and layup from Tristan Fisher cut the Rockets' edge down to 17-15.
Okawville's shooters heated up from the outside, however, with Connor Obermeier then Jacob Brammeier connecting from downtown to make it 24-17 Okawville with 2:28 to go in the first half. The Rockets took a 27-19 lead into the locker rooms.
In a game that featured 45 total fouls, the Panthers were whistled for 28 of them and Okawville took full advantage at the charity stripe. The Rockets scored seven of their twelve third-quarter points at the line and led by thirteen heading to the final period.
Fisher converted a three-point play and Luke Miller's bucket with just under four minutes left brought the Panthers to within a dozen at 43-31, but they would get no closer.
For their efforts, Miller and Hardin were named to the all-tournament team at the BIT.
"I thought Luke Miller had a nice tournament, I thought defensively he did a pretty good job on the other people's guards," Waggoner said. "I thought he ran our offense a little bit better. I thought Dylan Hardin, offensively, was better, playing a little bit stronger. I thought Tristan Fisher had a pretty nice tournament, thought he played pretty good guarding the other team's best player and giving us a little offensive punch."
Hardin had 9 points against Okawville to lead PCHS. Fisher had 7 points, Chris Priebe 6, Caleb Dahn 5, Miller 4, Nolan Luke 3 and Sterling Bejma 1.
"Overall it was a good week for us," said Waggoner. "I feel like we learned a little bit more about our team. You never want to learn through losses but sometimes those are the ones that sting a little more and you learn a little bit more about yourself."
Jeremy Weeke, also named to the All-BIT team, finished with 15 points to lead the Rockets.
In conjunction with the celebration of 40 years of the BIT, 40 players were selected as the Top 40 in tournament history. Several former Panthers made the list, including Wade Graskewicz ('80, '81), Jason Carson ('85, '86), Barry Graskewicz ('87, '88), Shane Hawkins ('91-'94), Tim Bauersachs ('01) and Kyle Cassity ('06-'08).
After a few days off, the Panthers (14-9) return to the floor at home this Friday looking to avenge an earlier loss this season to Carterville. On Saturday, Pinckneyville hosts the Panther Showcase and will take on Wesclin at 6:30 p.m. at Thomas Gymnasium.
-Pinckneyville 53, Sesser-Valier 29
On Friday night, Pinckneyville responded to their first loss at the BIT since 2004 with a crushing defeat of Sesser-Valier, 53-29, behind a team-high 15 points from Hardin.
The Panthers shut the Red Devils out 13-0 in the opening quarter and never looked back, building a 24-5 lead by the half.
Nine PCHS players scored, but only Hardin was in double figures. Chase Lazenby finished with 8 points, Fisher and Bejma had 7, Luke, Dahn and Henry Dudek each had 4, and Miller and Priebe 2.
-Pinckneyville 45, Hamilton County 34
The Panthers used a 17-8 second quarter to pull ahead of Hamilton County on their way to winning 45-34 on Saturday morning in their fourth game at the BIT.
Hardin again led the way, scoring 18 points for PCHS. Priebe had 10 points, Fisher 7, Dahn 5, Bejma and Miller 2 and Luke 1.