BASKETBALL: #204 Lady Tigers advance to elite eight
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville District #204' 25th victory of the girls basketball season was as hard-fought as any, but the reward was far greater than that of any other win the Lady Tigers have racked up in 2011-12, at least so far.
The Region 3 Champion Lady Tigers are bound for the SIJHSAA Class S State Tournament after a 21-18 triumph over Hoyleton-Grand Prairie on Friday night at Waltonville Elementary School in a game where uncontested shots were as hard to come by as points.
The score was deadlocked at 12-12 with just a minute to go in the third quarter, but a free throw from Taylor Smith and a driving bucket by Sophie Keith put #204 on top by three headed to the final frame.
The Lady Tigers never let go of that advantage, as Smith drove in for a layup then Torrie Carter had a rebound and putback with 4:00 to play that gave #204 their biggest lead at 19-14.
Hoyleton scored the next four points, but Lindsey Taylor and Keith each split a pair of free throws in the final minute-and-half while the defense forced four Hoyleton turnovers to seal the championship of Region 3.
Carter led all scorers with 9 points for #204, Keith added 6, Smith and Taylor each had 3. The Lady Tigers were able to win despite a dismal 7-for-33 performance at the free throw line.
Janie Holle led Hoyleton with 7 points, Brooke Bowman had 6.
Pinckneyville (Dist. #204) plays at 3:45 p.m. this Saturday, January 21 in round one of the eight-team State Tournament held at Rend Lake College. The Lady Tigers (25-2) won't know their opponent in their first round game until Jasper and St. Joe-Olney settle the Region 8 championship on Tuesday night.
<element id="paragraph-1" type="body"></element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ <element id="paragraph-1" type="body"></element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ <element id="paragraph-1" type="body"></element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[</group><group id="987C7846-D7B2-4174-9D77-99EABC0C11FB" type="seoLabels"><seoLabels></seoLabels></group><