Lady Wildcats take 5th at Eldorado
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team bounced back to defeat Goreville and claim 5th place in the Eldorado Tournament Saturday, Jan. 23.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>A-J 60, Goreville 29:</strong> The Lady Wildcats took control in the second quarter to claim the fifth place win.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J led 13-9 after one quarter and raced to a 33-15 first half advantage. The Lady Wildcats were ahead 46-21 after three periods.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Elle Basler, who earned the tournament’s Sportsmanship Award, had 12 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals for A-J.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Connar Hadley added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Jasmin Foster had 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Angel Helm had 7 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Lexa Sharp had 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist. Lexi Smith had 2 points. Julie Ellis had 2 points and a rebound. J.C. Woodward had 2 points.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Fairfield 50, A-J 36:</strong> Basler led the way with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in the loss Thursday, Jan. 21.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Foster added 9 points and 5 rebounds. Helm had 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. Sharp had 2 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Smith had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Fairfield led 10-5 after one quarter and 22-15 at the half. The Lady Mules led 38-28 going into the final quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Eldorado 49, A-J 46:</strong> After trailing early, the Lady Wildcats fought back to pull close in the final quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We missed three or four wide open lay ups then,” a disappointed A-J coach Matt Denny said.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Eagles led 13-7 after one quarter and 30-17 at the half. A-J pulled to 38-29 gong into the final quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Basler led the way with 20 points, 13 rebounds, 7 steals and 2 assists.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Helm had 7 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and an assist. Foster had 6 points, 7 rebounds and a steal. Smith had 6 points, 2 steals and a rebound. Sharp had 4 points and 2 rebounds. Hadley had 2 points and 2 rebounds. Ellis had a point and 2 steals.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Benton 58, A-J 35:</strong> The Lady Rangers pulled ahead early on their way to the win Tuesday, Jan. 19.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Benton led 20-13 at the end of one quarter and 33-22 at the half. A-J trailed 47-28 after three perods.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Basler had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Heath had 5 points, a rebound and an assist. Hadley had 4 points, 6 rebounds and an assist. Sharp had 4 points, 2 rebounds and an assist. Foster had 3 points, 2 assists and a rebound. Helm and Ellis each had 2 points and a rebound apiece.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J, 10-13 overall, is scheduled to play Thursday, today, at home against Pinckneyville. The Lady Wildcats travel to Sesser-Valier Saturday, Jan. 30.</span></p>