Lady Wildcats open season by taking third at Harrisburg Tourney
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team opened its season at the Harrisburg Tournament last week and finished in third place.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>A-J 33, Carmi-White County 18:</strong> Elle Basler had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal to lead A-J to the third place win Saturday, Nov. 28.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Jasmine Foster added 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal for A-J. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Connar Hadley had 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Angel Helm added 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist. Lexa Sharp had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Wildcats led 7-2 afer one quarter and 16-6 at the half. A-J led 24-11 after three periods.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We talked about slowing it down tonight, playing defense and limiting our turnovers,” A-J coach Matt Denny said. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We did all of them. We cut our turnovers way down from the last two games, and that was the difference. I was most proud of how we competed. We were all over the floor tonight.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J’s Basler and Sharp were both named to the all-tournament team.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Harrisburg 61, A-J 26:</strong> Basler had 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal to lead A-J in the loss to the tournament champion Friday, Nov. 27.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Foster had 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sydney Heath had 3 points and a steal. Sharp had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. Helm had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Morgan Wendling and Julia Ellis had 2 points apiece.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>West Frankfort 61, A-J 34:</strong> Basler led the way in the loss with 11 points Wednesday, Nov. 25.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Hadley added 7 points, Helm and Heath 6 apiece, Sharp 5 and Foster 2.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We had too many turnovers,” Denny said. “They started on fire and could not miss anything, and we couldn’t buy a basket. But we aren’t far off. We are starting three underclassmen, and our subs are young as well. It will come together, there are going to be some bumps along the way though.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>A-J 50, Eldorado 48:</strong> Basler scored 17 points to lead the Lady Wildcats to the opening round win Monday, Nov. 23.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sharp added 10 points, including three 3-pointers. Helm had 9 points, Foster 7. Hadley 5 and Jacee Woodward 2.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The game was tied 12-12 after one quarter. A-J pulled ahead 23-20 at the half and was on top 38-34 going into the final period. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“It was a good win and we didn’t panic,” Denny said. “But we still have a long way to go.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J, 2-2, is scheduled to play Friday at Marion.</span></p>