Lady Wildcats score win over Pope County in tournament action
<p class="p1">After struggling all week, the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team posted a 40-32 win over Pope County in its final game of the Eldorado Tournament Saturday, Jan. 24.</p><p class="p1">“I was proud the way we bounced back after the Goreville loss,” A-J coach Matt Denny said. “Pope County has one of the best scorers in the area in Emily Powles. We knew we had to shut her down.”</p><p class="p1">Powles finished with 17 points.</p><p class="p1">Balyie Denny had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and steals to lead the Lady Wildcats.</p><p class="p1">Elle Basler added 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists and steals. Lexi Smith had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Haley Inman had 3 points, 2 rebounds and a steal. Connar Hadley had 3 rebounds and a steal. Lexi Sharp had 5 rebounds.</p><p class="p1">The Lady Wildcats were ahead 14-5 after one quarter. The Lady Pirates fought back to pull ahead 18-17 at the half. A-J came back to go ahead 34-26 going into the final period.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Goreville 36, A-J 19:</strong> The Lady Wildcats couldn’t hold the lead in the loss Thursday, Jan. 22.</p><p class="p1">A-J led 7-2 afer one quarter and 12-10 at the half. The Lady Blackcats fought back to pull ahead 21-14 at the end of three periods. Balyie Denny had 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and steals to lead the Lady Wildcats.</p><p class="p1">Basler added 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists and steals. Smith had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Inman had 2 points, 2 rebounds and a steal. Sharp had a point and 5 rebounds.</p><p class="p1">“This was by far the worst game of the year,” Denny said. “We have to learn to fight through days when you don’t feel 100 percent.”</p><p class="p1"><strong>Vienna 45, A-J 42:</strong> The Lady Eagles led early in the win Tuesday, Jan. 20.</p><p class="p1">Vienna led 12-7 after one quarter and 22-16 at the half. </p><p class="p1">The Lady Eagles were ahead 34-22 headed into the final period.</p><p class="p1">Basler had 17 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists and steals to lead A-J.</p><p class="p1">Balyie Denny had 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and steals. Sharp had 5 points, 2 rebounds and an assist. Inman had 4 points, a rebound and a steal. Ally Reynolds had 2 points, 3 rebounds and a steal. Erikah Parks had 2 points and a steal.</p><p class="p1">A-J, 9-13, which was scheduled to play Carterville earlier this week, plays Thursday, today, at Pinckneyville and Saturday at home against Sesser-Valier.</p><p class="p1">“It doesn’t get any easier this week,” Denny said. “We are going to have to really battle.”</p>