Wildcats defeat Vienna Saturday in tournament play

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team defeated Vienna Saturday, Jan. 19, to claim seventh place at the West Frankfort Mid-Winter Classic.

A-J  56, Vienna 49: Tyler Vaughn scored 13 points and had 7 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to the win.

Jay Kemp added 10 points and 4 rebounds. Colton James had 9 points and a rebound, Zach Parr 8 points and 3 rebounds and Noah Fuller 7 points.

Ben McFarland had 5 points and 4 rebounds, Noah Prater 4 points and Damian Reed had 5 rebounds.

A-J shot 58 percent (21 of 36) from the field. They were 4 of 8 from 3-point range, 17 of 28 from 2-point range and 10 of 11 from the free throw line.

The Eagles shot 36 percent (19 of 53) from the field. They were 7 of 19 from 3-point range, 12 of 34 from 2-point range and 4 of 7 from the free throw line.

“We finally got us a win,” A-J coach Mike Chamness said. “We’ve been getting a lot better since the Nashville game.”

Goreville 75, A-J 63: The Wildcats couldn’t hold a first quarter lead in the loss at the Classic Friday, Jan. 18.

“We played pretty well against Goreville, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” Chamness said. “They got us in the second quarter.”

A-J led 19-14 after the first quarter but were outscored 24-6 in the second quarter. The Blackcats led 38-25 at halftime and 53-43 heading into the fourth quarter.

Parr had 16 points and 16 rebounds to lead A-J. Fuller added 12 points and a rebound, Reed 10 points and 10 rebounds and Vaughn 10 points.

James had 9 points and a rebound, McFarland 4 points and 4 rebounds and Kemp 2 points and 7 rebounds.

The Wildcats shot 40 percent (23 of 57) from the field. They were 5 of 13 from 3-point range, 18 of 44 from 2-point range and 12 of 23 from the free throw line.

Goreville shot 50 percent (26 of 52) from the field. They were 4 of 16 from 3-point range, 22 of 36 from 2-point range and 19 of 29 from the free throw line.

Johnston City 56, A-J 51:

The Indians outscored A-J 13-4 in the second quarter to defeat the Wildcats at the Classic Wednesday, Jan. 16.

A-J trailed 15-13 after the first quarter and 28-17 at halftime. Johnston City lead 38-31 heading into the fourth quarter.

Vaughn scored 17 points and had 5 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Fuller added 16 points and a rebound, Parr 9 points and 2 rebounds and McFarland had 4 points and 6 rebounds.

Prater had 3 points and a rebound, Kemp had 2 points and 2 rebounds and Reed had 8 rebounds.

A-J shot 36 percent (21 of 58) from the field. They were 3 of 13 from 3-point range, 18 of 45 from 2-point range and 6 of 9 from the free throw line.

The Indians shot 46 percent (22 of 48) from the field. They were 3 of 8 from 3-point range, 19 of 40 from 2-point range and 9 of 16 from the free throw line.

A-J, 4-15, was to have played Murphysboro earlier this week. The Wildcats  will play at home Friday against Du Quoin and Saturday at Pinckneyville.