Lady ‘Cats score wins over Goreville, Sparta

<p class="p1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team posted a 2-1 record in recent action.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Murphysboro 58, A-J 40:</strong> The Lady Wildcats fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in first round action of the Murphysboro Tournament Saturday, Jan. 9.</p><p class="p1">The host Lady Red Devils were ahead 12-2 after one quarter and 26-11 at the half. </p><p class="p1">The Lady Wildcats pulled to 35-23 after three periods and were within 8 points in the final period.</p><p class="p1">“We had our chances, but didn’t capitalize,” A-J coach Matt Denny said. </p><p class="p1">“We had a lot of turnovers and we have to make our layups at the opportune time.”</p><p class="p1">Elle Basler led the way for A-J with 22 points.</p><p class="p1">Angel Helm added 10 points, Connar Hadley 4, Lexis Sharp 3 and Lexi Smith 1.</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>A-J 51, Goreville 32:</strong> Basler scored 17 points to lead the visiting Lady Wildcats to the win Thursday, Jan. 7.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Helm added 14 points, Sharp 11 and Jasmin Foster 9.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Wildcats were ahead 15-7 after one quarter and 27-14 at the half. A-J led 39-22 after three periods.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>A-J 35, Sparta 22:</strong> Hadley led the way with 12 points for the visiting Lady Wildcats in the conference game Tuesday, Jan. 5.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Basler and Helm added 6 points apiece, Sharp 5 and Foster, Smith and Sydney Heath 2 apiece.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J built an 11-2 first quarter advantage and was ahead 23-8 at the half. The Lady Wildcats led 27-15 after three quarters.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J, 8-6, is scheduled to play Herrin Thursday, today, at home and takes on Shawnee at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, in its final game in the Murphysboro Tournament.</span></p>