Lady Wildcats struggle in three recent losses
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team has struggled with three recent losses.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Fairfield 58, A-J 48:</strong> The Lady Wildcats fell behind in the first quarter and couldn’t catch up in the opening-round loss in the Eldorado Tournament Saturday, Jan. 17.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Mules led 22-8 after one quarter and 35-23 at the half. A-J trailed 47-33 going into the final period.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Balyie Denny had 14 points, including four 3-pointers, with 6 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the Lady Wildcats.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Haley Inman had 10 points and 6 rebounds. Lexa Smith had 10 points and 4 rebounds. Elle Basler had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Connar Hadley had 2 points and a rebound. Lexa Sharp had a point and 3 rebounds.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Herrin 43, A-J 22:</strong> The Lady Wildcats couldn’t hold a first quarter lead in the loss to host Herrin Thursday, Jan. 15.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Wildcats led 12-10 after one quarter. The Lady Tigers tied the game 16-16 at the half and outscored A-J 16-3 in the third quarter to build a 32-19 advantage going into the final period.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We probably played our best first half and probably our worst second half of the season in the game,” A-J coach Matt Denny said.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Basler had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to lead A-J. Baylie Denny added 6 points, which were both 3-pointers, and 2 rebounds. Inman had 5 points and 5 rebounds. Reynolds had 2 points and 2 rebounds.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Nashville 51, A-J 29:</strong> The visiting Lady Wildcats couldn’t recover from a first quarter deficit in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference loss Monday, Jan. 12.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Hornets raced to a 17-4 first quarter lead and were in front 30-9 at the half.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Basler had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for the Lady Wildcats.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Inman had 5 points and 3 rebounds. Reynolds had 4 points and 2 rebounds. Baylie Denny had 3 points and a rebound. Erikah Parks and Smith had 2 points apiece.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">With the losses, A-J fell to 8-10 overall.</span></p>