Wildcats drop three games in recent play
<p class="p1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team lost three games in recent action:</p><p class="p1"><strong>Massac County 65, A-J 51:</strong> The host Wildcats fell behind early in the loss Saturday, Dec. 19.</p><p class="p1">The Patriots led 12-7 after one quarter and 30-18 at the half. A-J trailed 50-35 headed into the final period.</p><p class="p1">Sheldon McGrath scored 14 points and had 3 rebounds to lead the Wildcats.</p><p class="p1">Jake Parr had 11 points and 5 rebounds. Dakota Earnhart had 11 points and a rebound. Ryan Stark had 5 points and a rebound. Garrett Nimmo had 5 points. Hunter Garver had 3 points and 6 rebounds. Wyatt Smith had 2 points and a rebound.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 16 of 31 in shot attempts from the field, 4 of 15 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 from the free throw line.</p><p class="p1">The Patriots were 18 of 35 in shot attempts from the field, 4 of 15 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 from the charity stripe.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Carterville 49, A-J 44:</strong> The host Wildcats let a big lead slip away in the loss Friday, Dec. 18.</p><p class="p1">A-J led 15-2 after one quarter and was ahead 22-16 at the half. The Wildcats led 32-31 going into the final quarter. The Lions came on for an 18-12 run in the final period to post the come-from-behind win.</p><p class="p1">Parr led the way with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Earnhart added 13 points and 5 rebounds. Hunter Garver had 6 points, both 3-pointers. Ryan Stark had 5 points and 3 rebounds. Garrett Nimmo had 3 points and 2 rebounds. Collin Prather had 1 point and 5 rebounds. Wyatt Smith had 3 rebounds. Sheldon McGrath had 2 rebounds.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 11 of 28 in shot attempts from the floor, 5 of 15 from 3-point range and 7 of 15 from the free throw line.</p><p class="p1">The Lions were 11 of 33 in shot attempts from the floor, 7 of 21 from 3-point range and 6 of 8 from the charity stripe.</p><p class="p1"><strong>Chester 51, A-J 42:</strong> The Wildcats lost to host Chester in non-conference action Tuesday, Dec. 15.</p><p class="p1">The Yellowjackets led 10-9 after one quarter and 26-22 at the half. The Wildcats cut the lead to 35-34 going into the last period before being outscored 16-8 in the final quarter.</p><p class="p1">Parr had 12 points and 3 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Earnhart had 10 points and 3 rebounds. Prather had 7 points and 2 rebounds. Ryan Stark had 6 points and 2 rebounds. Garver had 3 points and a rebound. Nimmo had 2 points and 3 rebounds. Smith had 2 points and a rebound.</p><p class="p1">A-J was 9 of 25 in shot attempts from the floor, 6 of 19 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 from the free throw line. Chester was 14 of 21 in shot attempts from the floor, 3 of 9 from 3-point range and 14 of 19 from the charity stripe.</p><p class="p1">A-J, 5-5, plays again Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against Union County, Kentucky, at 11:30 a.m. in the Eldorado Christmas Tournament.</p>