Lady Wildcats post three wins

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team won three games in action last week.

A-J 70, Sparta 35: Kim Mixen scored 25 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the visiting Lady Wildcats to the win in Southern Illinois River-to-River Mississippi Division Conference action Thursday, Jan. 24.

Brooke Chamness scored 20 points, including three 3-pointers, for the Lady Wildcats. Cara Farris added 8 points, Katie Grant 6 and Sam Clary 4.

Aly Reynolds and Erikah Parks had 3 points each and Sammy Brimm 1.

A-J jumped out to a 22-10 lead after the first quarter and led 41-20 at halftime.

A-J 47, Cobden 46: Despite missing five free throws with less than a minute remaining, the host Lady Wildcats survived to get the win over county rival Cobden.

A-J led 8-7 after the first quarter and 25-19 at halftime. The Lady Appleknockers fought back in the third quarter to tie the game 35-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

Cobden led 41-37 early in the fourth quarter until Mixen hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Chamness then followed with a pair of free throws. The Lady Appleknockers tried to rally but fell just short.

Mixen led the Lady Wildcats in scoring with 17 points. Chamness added 15 points, Grant 7, Farris 5 and Brimm 3.

Taylor Ellis scored 17 points to lead the Cobden. She also surpassed the 1,000 point high school career milestone during the game.

Haley Tomazzoli added 8 points for the Lady Appleknockers, Sandra Hartline and Ashley Millis 6 each and Taylor Tomazzoli and Devyn Inman 5 each.

Cobden committed 26 turnovers to A-J’s 17. The Lady Wildcats also won the battle at the free throw line. They were 16 of 29 from the free throw line and  the Lady Appleknockers were  7 of 18.

A-J 75, Chester 53: Chamness scored 25 points to lead visiting A-J to the win Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Farris added 18 points, Mixen 9, Grant 8, Reynolds and Brimm 7 each and Clary 1.

The Lady Wildcats led 14-7 after the first quarter and 24-23 at halftime. A-J outscored the Lady Yellow Jackets 22-5 in the third quarter to take a 46-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“Despite our injuries, our kids have responded well,” A-J coach Brian Clark said. “We’ve had some great senior leadership and the kids have stepped up. They have responded well.”

Clark said the team, which has been plagued by multiple injuries, has overcome the loss of their point guard Balyie Denny, who suffered a concussion recently and has been out of action.

A-J, 8-19, is scheduled to play Thursday, today, at home against Carterville. Tonight’s game will be Senior Night for A-J.