JUNIOR HIGH ROUND UP: Jr. Panthers in Regional Finals

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Top-seeds Pinckneyville (Junior High School) and Okawville (Junior High School) will meet for the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) Region V Championship in Class M, following Thursday's action at the Hugh Malan Complex.

PJHS, 12-11, ousted Sesser-Valier 33-15 and #2 Okawville eliminated Nashville 52-33 in semifinal action.

At 1 o'clock Saturday, the Junior Panthers and Okawville decide the title with the winner advancing to state tournament play Saturday, Feb. 6.

Against Sesser-Valier, PJHS opened an 8-0 first quarter lead and was never challenged.

By the end of three periods, that advantage had grown to 27-12.

Will Timpner, Caleb Howard and Sage Evers all had six points for the Junior Panthers with Chaz Ruffino adding five and Christopher Priebe four. Brandon Edwards and Chase Lazenby each netted two points with Joey Burris and Luke Chapman hitting foul shots.