The Road to Normal: Freeburg Eliminates Lady Panthers
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ All season long, perimeter shooting and pressure defense have been staples for the Pinckneyville Community High School Girls Basketball team.
Monday night, in the semifinal round of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 2A Sectional, the Lady Panthers struggled in both areas.
And, against a good Freeburg team, that spelled disaster.
Pinckneyville's second-most successful season ended with a 21-9 record, following a 41-31 setback in Sparta's Fulton Memorial Gymnasium.
The Lady Panthers managed to convert just 23% (12-for-52) of their shots against Freeburg, and were only 4-of-21 behind the three-point arc.
"The two things we've hung our hats on all season to be successful betrayed us tonight," Pinckneyville coach Alan Engelhardt said. "In order for us to have a chance to win, we need to hit perimeter shots and score off our press."
Freeburg led 5-4 late in the first quarter and ripped off 16 unanswered points to extend its edge to 21-4 as halftime neared. The only hoop PCHS could manage came with the clock ticking under a minute before intermission when Dani Jenkel buried a long three-pointer.
Trailing 21-7 at the break, Pinckneyville turned up its defensive intensity and pulled within 23-16 as the third quarter drew to a close.
Jenkel hit another three and Maddy Keith scored from the elbow as the Lady Panthers sliced Freeburg's lead down to 23-16. Jessica Richert-who paced the Lady Midgets with 19 points-converted a short jump shot as the period ended, pushing the lead back to nine.
"It really wasn't until midway through the third quarter that we really started to pressure the way we wanted," said Engelhardt. "We allowed Freeburg to play at their pace in the first half. Once our pressure got better, we sped the game up and cut into the lead. We just had way too steep a hill to climb."
Pinckneyville didn't go down without a fight, pulling within 27-23 after a 7-2 spurt early in the last frame. Jenkel's third three, and a steal and basket from Mandi Kellerman, forced Freeburg into a timeout.
The Lady Midgets quickly re-grouped and ripped off seven unanswered points to go ahead 34-23. Pinckneyville would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
"Obviously we just didn't shoot the ball very well at all," Engelhardt said. "We've been consistently around 35% or so from three-point land all season."
Jenkel scored 18 points-a dozen coming on three's-to pace Pinckneyville's attack. Kellerman added seven points with Maddy Keith, Brianna Sanders and Becky Vanderjack all netting baskets.
Kellerman, Vanderjack and Leah Eisenhauer played their last games for PCHS as the only seniors on Engelhardt's young roster.
"We'll miss our seniors next year as they have been the most successful group in school history," he said. "Winning the first two Class 2A regionals and Hamilton County tournament titles in school history. They were 43-17 over the past two years."
Freeburg advances to play Nashville in Thursday's finals. Nashville (25-5) pulled out a defensive-minded 26-23 win over Massac County to close Monday's session.
Three-Point Heartbreak
Du Quoin sophomore Shaylyn Little came within an eyelash of reaching sectional final level competition in the Country Insurance Three-Point Showdown.
Little hit five shots in the opening round, tying for the fourth and final qualifying position. She then went four rounds into a tie-breaker before losing to Red Bud's Emily Bollman, 3-2.