Wildcats defeat Cobden, fall in conference play

Ben McFarland scored 18 points and pulled down 7 rebounds to lead host Anna-Jonesboro to its first win of the season, a 58-42 victory over Cobden in non-conference high school boys’ basketball Saturday, Dec. 8.

“We needed that win to build some confidence,” A-J coach Mark Chamness said. “We’ve been playing better.”

Noah Fuller added 12 points and had 3 rebounds for the Wildcats. Zach Parr had 11 points and 2 rebounds. Tyler Vaughn had 8 points.

Colton James scored 3 points. Damian Reed had 2 points and 6 rebounds. Jay Kemp and Zane DeWitt  each scored 2 points.

J.C. Chapman had 12 points to lead the Appleknockers. Tyler Lewey added 8 points, Parker Flamm 5, Jordan Waldrop, Austin Flamm and Josh Aspen 4 each, Nathan Sweitzer 3 and Garrett Marks 2.

McFarland opened the game with a 2-point basket and closed the first quarter with a 3-point basket to give A-J a 15-7 lead.

“I thought  our kids came out ready to play,” Chamness said. “We came out and got the lead and never lost it.”

A-J’s Tyler Vaughn  and Cobden’s Tyler Lewey seemed to trade 3-pointers as each team scored 12 points in the second quarter. The Wildcats led 27-19 at halftime.

Vaughn was able to hit another 3-pointer in the third quarter to help A-J take a 37-27 lead into the fourth quarter.

“Our kids are so young,” Chamness said. “We just want our kids to keep getting better every game. We’re slowly getting there.”

Du Quoin 56, A-J 47: The visiting Wildcats jumped out to an 11-6 lead after the first quarter in their season opening Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division game Friday, Dec. 7.

The Indians outscored A-J 19-10 in the second quarter though to take a 25-21 halftime lead.

The Wildcats fought hard in the third quarter but still trailed 35-31 heading to the last quarter.

James scored 13 points to lead A-J. McFarland added 12 points and Fuller 10.

Vaughn scored 6 and Kemp, Reed and Noah Prater had 2 each.

A-J, 1-5 and 0-1 in the conference, is scheduled to play Friday at Pinckneyville and Saturday at Massac County.