Perry County Braggin' Rights: Panthers Fight Back Tribe in Triple OT

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[As it turns out, Santa Claus-and more importantly Pinckneyville Community High School's boys basketball team-was listening when Panther coach Bob Waggoner revealed one of his Christmas wishes last week.

Facing a scheduling gauntlet that included three of Southern Illinois' top Class 2A teams, the PCHS mentor asked for three things: wins over Nashville, Herrin and Du Quoin.

Tuesday night, inside a jam-packed and infernal Thomas Memorial Gymnasium, the Panthers outlasted Perry County rival Du Quoin 83-79 in a triple overtime classic that lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours.

Pinckneyville (6-2) gained the upper hand in River-to-River Conference, Mississippi Division play with the victory. The Panthers are 3-0. Du Quoin and Nashville both carry 2-1 records, but Pinckneyville already owns two early road wins as league play breaks for the holidays.

The win marked the 137th time in the past 180 meetings-stretching all the way back to 1940-that Pinckneyville has defeated its biggest rival on the hardwood.

Du Quoin (7-1, 2-1) was bidding for its first 8-0 start to the season since 1971-72.

"That was just a great high school basketball game between two rivals in a super-tough conference," Waggoner said. "We really executed for the first 28 minutes and then they came back and got us in the final four minutes."

Pinckneyville's defense frustrated Du Quoin for most of regulation time before the Indians fullcourt pressure turned the tide.

The Panthers had just seven turnovers until the final quarter, when they committed eight miscues. Most came in the last four minutes of play as a fervent Du Quoin rally forced a 61-61 tie as regulation play ended.

PCHS trailed 9-7 midway through the first quarter before a three-ball by Drew Dudek keyed a 17-4 run. Trailing 24-13, Du Quoin was forced to use a pair of timeouts in a 55 second span. The Indians managed to claw back within seven (32-25) by intermission.

Pinckneyville's edge was nine (48-39) to begin the final period and actually grew to 12 points, 54-42 with just over five minutes left.

"We may find some fault with how we played," admitted Indians coach Mike Crews. "But in no way can I fault the effort tonight. Our kids just refused to die and I am pretty proud of that."

The Indians ripped off an eight-point burst to pull within four (54-50) and Jamor Reed's three made the score 59-58. Foul shots from Matt Gossett and David Rose forced the first extra session.

Pinckneyville built an early 65-61 edge but Gossett pushed things to a second OT with two foul shots at the 17.9 mark.

Two more tosses by Gossett-who ended the game with 30 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals-gave Du Quoin its first lead since midway through the opening period (69-68) with 2:35 left before Taylor Pyatt pushed Pinckneyville back in front.

A pair of foul shots with 32.7 left from Dudek knotted things again, this time at 72-72, and sent the marathon into its third extra period.

"I thought we battled and showed some much mental toughness," Waggoner said. "We kept fighting and just eventually wore them down."

Du Quoin would lead early in OT #3 after a hoop by Cody Rose, but the Panthers hit seven of nine free throws in the last 45 seconds to finally end things.

The Indians didn't go quietly and nearly forged ahead with 48 seconds left when J.C. Davis' three-point attempt went halfway in the basket before rimming out.

Gossett played all 44 minutes and was one of three Indians to reach double figures. Reed had 13 points and eight assists. Davis added a dozen points and six steals. D. Rose (eight points, eight rebounds) was also again solid.

Dudek (23 points, five steals, seven rebounds) led Pinckneyville.

Nathan Morton scored 17 points and had 13 rebounds before fouling out. Pyatt was also huge off the bench, scoring 15 points.

Shay Kellerman added 10 points and Kyle Lamb eight more.

"We really just kept fighting and trying to find ways to win," Waggoner said. "That's a nice way to go into the holidays."

For the Indians, who won the overall rebound battle 41-40 despite being beaten soundly (20-12) on the offensive glass, a season-worst 21 turnovers proved to be the downfall.

"At times we just didn't take care of the ball well enough," said Crews. "And that's starting to be a concern. We've started 7-1, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't about 12 kids and several coaches down there right now (in the lockerroom) who are heartsick and disappointed at not being 8-0."

PCHS won the junior varsity game, 70-61.

Pinckneyville 83, Du Quoin 79

Du Quoin 9 16 14 22 6 5 7-79

PCHS 15 17 16 13 6 5 11-83

Du Quoin (7-1, 2-1):

Davis 5 0-0 12, Carson 1 1-1 3, Clarry 3 1-2 7, Reed 5 2-3 13, Schneider 2 0-0 4, M. Gossett 7 16-19 30, C. Rose 1 0-0 2, D. Rose 3 2-4 8. TOTALS 27 22-27 79.

PCHS (6-2, 3-0):

Dudek 7 7-9 23, Chandler 1 4-4 6, Bathon 1 2-2 4, Pyatt 6 3-4 15, Shopinski 0 0-0 0, Morton 8 0-0 17, Kellerman 3 4-4 10, Lamb 3 2-4 8.

Three-pointers: Du Quoin 3 (Davis 2, Reed). PCHS 4 (Dudek 3, Morton). Team fouls; Du Quoin 20, PCHS 26. Fouled out: Morton, Lamb.

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