Pinckneyville tops A-J

Dustin Winter scored 19 points to lead Pinckneyville to a 62-44 win over visiting Anna-Jonesboro in Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division high school boys basketball action Friday, Jan. 16.

The Wildcats were playing without starters J.R. Woodward and Cody Wheaton.

Woodward had shoulder surgery and is out for the season.Cody Wheaton was suspended from the team for disciplinary reasons.

"It's hard to replace losing that many points a game," said A-J coach Brian Matzenbacher, who noted both players combined averaged close to 30 points a game. "We've kind of got to go back to the drawing board a little bit."

Cody Hubble scored 17 points and had 7 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Luke Partridge added 7 points and 2 rebounds. Jordan Adams had 7 points and 3 rebounds.

Gabe Pecord added 6 points and 2 rebounds. Jordan Chamness had 5 points and 2 rebounds. Jesse Webb had 2 points.

The Panthers pulled ahead 21-7 after one quarter and 36-20 at the half. Pinckneyville led 52-33 after three periods.

Pinckneyville was 12 of 24 in shot attempts from the floor, 9 of 19 from 3-point range and 10 of 12 from the free throw line.

The Wildcats were 14 of 25 in shot attempts from the field, 2 of 8 from 3-point range and 10 of 20 from the charity stripe.

Pinckneyville outrebounded A-J, 29-20, and had 17 turnovers to the Wildcats' 14.

A-J, which fell to 8-8 overall and 1-3 in the league, plays this week in the West Frankfort Classic.