Wildcats post victories in three straight games
<p class="p1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team has won three consecutive games in recent action.</p><p class="p1"><strong>A-J 74, Johnston City 28:</strong> Dakota Earnhart had 18 points and 3 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to an opening round win in the West Frankfort Mid-Winter Classic Saturday, Jan. 17.</p><p class="p1">Noah Prater had 14 points and a rebound. Noah Fuller had 14 points and 3 rebounds. Derek Harvell had 10 points and 5 rebounds. </p><p class="p1">Zane DeWitt had 9 points and 4 rebounds. Wyatt Smith had 7 points and 2 rebounds. Blake Klett had 2 points and 3 rebounds. Collin Prather had 2 points and a rebound. Elijah Smith had 4 rebounds and Dallas Marks had 2 rebounds.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats led 26-9 after one quarter and 51-18 at the half.</p><p class="p1">A-J was 25 of 41 in shot attempts from the field, 7 of 17 from 3-point range and 3 of 7 from the free throw line.</p><p class="p1"><strong>A-J 62, Sparta 37:</strong> Fuller had 21 points and 4 rebounds to lead the host Wildcats to the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division win Friday, Jan. 16.</p><p class="p1">DeWitt added 9 points and 3 rebounds. Harvell had 8 points and 6 rebounds. Prater had 7 points and 4 rebounds. Earnhart had 5 points and 9 rebounds. Marks had 4 points. Elijah Smith had 2 points and 3 rebounds. Hunter Garver and Wyatt Smith had 2 points apiece. </p><p class="p1">The Wildcats led 14-10 after one quarter and raced to a 30-18 first half advantage. A-J led 41-24 going into the final period.</p><p class="p1">A-J was 16 of 33 in shot attempts from the floor, 5 of 14 from 3-point range and 16 of 26 from the free throw line.</p><p class="p1"><strong>A-J 84, Century 61 </strong> Host A-J took over in the second half on its way to the win over visiting Century in non-conference action Tuesday, Jan. 13.</p><p class="p1">The Centurions led 11-10 after one quarter before the Wildcats pulled ahead 30-29 at the half. A-J came on in the third quarter to out score Century 22-12 to take a 52-41 lead into the final period. The Wildcats outscored the Centurions 32-20 in the final quarter.</p><p class="p1">Fuller led A-J with 22 points. DeWitt added 16 points, Earnhart 15, Prater 11, Zach Parr 7, Harvell 5, Garver 3 and Elijah Smith 2.</p><p class="p1">The Wildcats were 27 of 45 from 2-point range, 8 of 21 from 3-point range and 6 of 11 from the free throw line. </p><p class="p1">The Wildcats, who improved to 11-7 overall, were scheduled to play Eldorado Wednesday at the West Frankfort tournament.</p><p class="p1">Parr has been nursing a leg injury and was to undergo tests earlier this week and his playing status remains uncertain.</p><p class="p1">In tournament play, A-J plays again Friday, Jan. 23, at 8:30 p.m. against the host Redbirds.</p><p class="p1">Saturday, Jan. 24, starting times and places will be determined by teams’ record in tournament play. </p>