Girls Prep Basketball Previews: Lady Panthers Reload

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Coming off a memorable 21-9 campaign-that include repeat Class 2A and Hamilton County Tournament championships-the bar of excellence continues to rise higher and higher for Pinckneyville Community High School's Girls Basketball team.

With nine returning letter winners, three of those starters, good things again seem on the horizon.

"I think we have good reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season," fifth year coach Alan Engelhardt (69-47) said. "I really do think this team has some post season potential if we are willing to defend and rebound. The girls have set some nice goals for the season. "

Engelhardt builds this winter's edition of the Lady Panthers around returning Special Mention All-State point guard Emily Miller (5'3, sr.), who was also named River-to-River All-Conference, All-Southern Illinois and made all-tourney teams at Hamilton County and Herrin.

Miller is the top returning PCHS performer in points (11.4 ppg), assists (3.1), rebounds (4.6) and steals (2.9).

Maddy Keith (5'10, jr.) is back at the shooting guard position and small forward Taylor Cicardi (5'10, jr.) will again start.

Dani Jenkel (5'8, jr.) and Taylor Kuhnert (5'7, jr.) are also contending for starting roles. Jenkel is the team's top three-point threat after hitting 42% of her tries from beyond the arc last season.

Mo Ramsey (5'10, jr.), Kortney Crawford (5'3, jr.), Katrina Henson (5'4, so.) and Cheyenne Conner (5'3, jr.) continue to battle for playing time.

Engelhardt's varsity roster is completed by Tyler Flowers (5'7, so.) and Lindsey Winter (5'8, so.).

"Having 10 juniors and seniors has allowed us to have much more productive practices because we don't have to continually stop and re-teach things," said Engelhardt. "We should be pretty long and athletic and able to score. Having five girls that can crash the boards will be a priority."

Pinckneyville must replace two key graduated performers from last season: Mandi Kellerman and Becky Vanderjack.

Brianna Sanders will miss her senior year after a knee injury.

PCHS opens the season against Galatia-Thompsonville Nov. 23 in the HamCo event. Besides the usual SIRR, Mississippi home-and-home grind versus Nashville, Sparta, Anna-Jonesboro, Chester and Du Quoin, the Lady Panthers again play at the Herrin Holiday Classic and are first time entries at the West Frankfort Mid-Winter Classic.

Non-league foes include Benton, Okawville, Carlyle, Murphysboro, Carterville and Breese Central.

Engelhardt's coaching staff includes Kristie Sheppard and Todd Thomas.