SIRR Rivals Night: Lady Panthers Pressure Du Quoin in Lopsided Win
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Needing a confidence-building win in the worst possible way, Pinckneyville Community High School's Girls Basketball team responded Tuesday night in a big way.
The Lady Panthers (7-2) snapped a brief two-game losing skid in convincing fashion, running past Perry County rival Du Quoin 60-36.
Snapping a three-game Lady Indians victory streak Pinckneyville is now 2-2 in River-to-River Conference play. Du Quoin, 7-3 and 1-2, visits Century and Nashville next week while Pinckneyville goes to Chester Thursday.
"It was just nice to see us get back to what we do well and guard the basketball," Lady Panthers coach Alan Engelhardt said. "It was nice to see us swarming the ball out front to force 33 turnovers and pick up 24 steals."
Pinckneyville's tenacious, full court pressure defense didn't phase Du Quoin at the outset.
But, the early 5-0 Lady Indians lead was quickly erased. A 13-2 run surged Pinckneyville in front (13-7) and the visitors were never headed.
Ahead 16-11 after one quarter, the Lady Panthers led 35-19 by halftime and quickly doubled that margin with a pair of early third quarter baskets from Emily Miller (20 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, six steals).
Miller was the lone PCHS scorer in double figures.
However, three Pinckneyville players-Mo Ramsey, Kortney Crawford and Katrina Henson-all hit for eight points.
Maddy Keith and Dani Jenkel each netted five points.
"Before the game we talked about making every possession difficult for Du Quoin and we did a pretty nice job of working towards that goal," Engelhardt said. "Mo Ramsey and Taylor Cicardi did a great job of limiting (Rachel) Maddox's touches and forcing her into tough shots."
Jessica Hirsch topped Du Quoin with 10 points. Maddox was held to four points and eight rebounds. Steffanie Gates and Magen Edwards each had six points.
The Lady Indians were minus two key performers. Starting forward Keawna Anders and top reserve Ashley Ward both missed the game due to injury.
"They just beat us in every phase of the game," Lady Indians coach Shawn File said.
"We just didn't take care of the ball our handle their pressure defense very well at all."
Pinckneyville rolled to an easy 53-24 win in the junior varsity contest. Curry Emling had eight points and four rebounds to pace Du Quoin (2-3, 1-2).
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