GIRLS BASKETBALL: Hornettes shut down Lady Panthers

The Lady Panthers kept it close for about a quarter and a half, but Nashville was able to pull away by allowing just six Pinckneyville points in the second half as the Hornettes routed PCHS 43-17 behind 21 points from Jordi Harre.

Pinckneyville could only manage two field goals in the third and fourth quarters combined - a three-pointer by Andrea Morgan, who later left with a sprained ankle, and a two by Sophie Keith.

By the end of the third period, Nashville had the game well in hand at 37-16, and handed PCHS their first loss in conference play this season.

"We didn't defend the way we were supposed to defend," said Lady Panthers head coach Alan Engelhardt. "We knew, outside of Harre, they don't have a lot of kids who want to put it on the floor. We were supposed to switch out and then really get out on the shooters and force them to drive baseline, and we didn't do that."

"We're very passive, both offensively and defensively, we're just a very passive team. We try to just let whatever is happening in the game happen, and we need someone to find a little aggression."

Keelyn Stein (five points), Keith (four), Morgan (three), Caitie Opp (three), Taylor Smith (one) and Caitlyn Anderson (one) scored for Pinckneyville.

The Lady Panthers (6-5, 3-1) will begin play at the Herrin Holiday Hoops Tournament this Friday when they take on CORL at 7:15 in Gym A at Herrin High School. On Saturday, PCHS will meet Vienna in Memorial Gym at 11:00 a.m., and Sesser-Valier in Gym A at 7:15 p.m.