Sparta puts Pinckneyville to the test Friday night, but Panthers prevail, 68-59
Coming off the emotional high of the Benton Invitational Tournament championship, the Panthers held off a scrappy Sparta team 68-59 on Friday night.
Panther Head Coach Bob Waggoner described the contest as "not a typical River-to-River game" but was glad the Panthers found a way to win on the road.
The Panthers started slowly, without their usual energy, and the first quarter seesawed for three ties and two lead changes. Grant Tanner scored the first Panther field goal, then Dré Scott scored 11 straight Panther points as he dominated post play. Hunter Riggins scored the final five on a 3-pointer and a field goal, interrupted by two turnovers by the Panthers, which also committed three more uncharacteristic turnovers to end the quarter with a slim 18-17 lead.
Sparta regained the lead for a short time in the 2nd quarter at 22-18 before Devin Kitchen hit a 3-pointer for 22-21 and three free throws to tie the game at 24. The Panthers' usual leading scorer, Dawson Yates, scored his first points on free throws well into the 2nd quarter for a 26-24 lead that the Panthers would never give up.
Coach Waggoner noted that different players stepped up for the Panthers when others were having an off night. Riggins came up with key shots in the 2nd quarter, a 3-pointer and a follow-up on a rebound; Tanner drove for a field goal, and Scott hit another. It all helped the Panthers stay on top when Sparta cut the lead to two points on two occasions before the Panthers stretched the lead to 8, 37-29 on two free throws by Yates toward the end of the quarter.
In the third quarter, Kitchen stepped up and scored on two straight trips down the floor as the Panthers opened up their biggest lead at 42-32. But Sparta swung the momentum back as the Panthers hit a scoring drought, finally stopped by a three-point play by Scott. Another Scott field goal held off the Bulldogs by 47-44 at the end of three quarters.
Sparta wouldn't go away and cut the Panther lead to two points on three occasions and one point at 52-51 during the 4th quarter.
But Tanner completed a three-point play; Yates hit his first field goal, and Ben Restoff hit his one field goal of the game to keep the lead for the Panthers when Sparta drew close.
Waggoner praised the play of Sparta's Carlos Keen, who controlled the tempo for much of the quarter, with the Panthers being whistled for numerous fouls that the Bulldogs converted to keep the game close.
Riggins, Kitchen, and Yates scored down the stretch for the Panther win at 68-59.
Scott led the Panthers with 18; Kitchen had 16, Riggins 13, and Yates 11 for the balanced team scoring.
Coach Waggoner said he didn't think the Panther coaching staff was not as well-engaged in the game as usual, and noted that players and coaches will need to bring their best game for the Saturday night matchup with Fairfield in the finale of the Panther Showcase.