12-26-08
BY JACK BULLOCK
ELDORADO - The Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats turned on their collective A-Game at the right time in their first round game against Fairfield on Friday afternoon.

Having trailed for most of the game while being out hustled by the Mules – A-J exploded for 28-points in the fourth quarter for a 59-42 advancement into the winners side of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament bracket.

Led by 22-markers from Jordan Adams the 'Cats overcame a 36-17 disadvantage in rebounding by forcing Fairfield into 18 turnovers – six in the final eight minutes – to secure their sixth win of the season.

Anna-Jonesboro also received 17 points from J.R. Woodward and 14 points from Cody Wheaton in the victory.

Head coach Brian Matzenbacher will lead his club into a rematch with Harrisburg – who routed Hardin County, 77-47, Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Jacob Carpenter topped the Mules with 15 points while Tim Moore tossed in 10 in defeat.

Fairfield was sitting with a seven point lead and the ball nearing the end of the third quarter when the game fell apart for Coach Scott McElravy and his club.

Leading 35-28 with the ball – the Mules turned it over to the Wildcats with :02.7 remaining in the third frame.

The Mules nodded off for a few moments and allowed A-J to get an easy pass up court for Adams who softly canned a wide-open 3-pointer from near the top of the arc to make it 35-31.

Anna-Jonesboro quickly took control in the final quarter – outrunning Fairfield 28-9 to win the game going away.

Going on a 14-2 sprint to begin the final stanza – the Wildcats quickly put the game out of reach after wearing down Fairfield.

“I don't know what happened to our offense in the first three quarters but we came alive in the final quarter,” said Matzenbacher – whose team now stands 6-4 in the 2008-09 season. “We turned it up defensively and it wore them down in the fourth quarter. We got our offense going out of our defensive stops. We got some good looks and then we hit our free throws down the stretch.”

In the final push – Anna-Jonesboro forced six turnovers in seven Fairfield possessions which turned a 35-31 deficit into a 45-37 Wildcats advantage.

Adams scored nine of those points – two of the shots were long range bombs.

When his drive in the lane fell in – the 'Cats were up by eight with 5:05 left.

Fairfield could get no closer than ten the rest of the way.

Anna-Jonesboro hit exactly half of his shots.

They canned 21-of-42 field goals overall and were 9-of-18 from long range.

Fairfield's rebounding edge was negated by A-J being efficient from the floor.

“We started attacking them better in the second half and when we can get it inside and then kick it back out that is when we can be successful,” added Matzenbacher. “Early on in the first half we didn't do that. We were settling for outside shots instead of working for better looks.”

Fairfield looked like they were going to pull another of their early round upsets that they have been known for in the past few seasons.

Six-foot-three senior Aaron Wallace scored eight points in the second quarter.

He scored the last two buckets in the quarter for Fairfield – giving the Mules a one-point lead at the break.

His rebound score with :31 remaining made it 24-23 at intermission.

Two scores by Moore - including a baseline drive – followed by a 3-pointer by Cody Greifzu put the Mules up 35-28 before the wheels came off.

“We didn't take care of the ball or the lead and we made way too many mistakes,” said McElravy. “We had the ball and a seven point lead but it is kind of a broken record for us this year. It isn't just one guy – it is our whole team. We don't take good care of the ball. Somebody is going to have to step up and handle the ball for us or it is going to be a long year.”

Anna-Jonesboro shot just nine free throws – all in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats made eight of the free ones to seal the win.

Fairfield got a lot of offensive rebounds (22) but that also meant that they missed a lot of shots to get those opportunities.

The Mules were just 19-of-54 from the floor in the contest.

Fairfield (44) – Moore 5 0 0-0 10, Read 0 0 0-0 0, Wallace 4 0 0-2 8, Simpson 1 0 0-0 2, Carpenter 6 0 3-4 15, Greifzu 0 1 2-3 5, Xanders 1 0 0-0 2, Lee 1 0 0-0 2, Atteberry 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-18, 3FG-1, FT-5-9, PF-13
Anna-Jonesboro (59) – Woodward 3 3 2-3 17, Wheaton 4 2 0-0 14, Adams 3 4 4-4 22, Pecord 0 0 0-0 0, Cotton 0 0 0-0 0, Partridge 2 0 2-2 6, Chamness 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-12, 3FG-9, FT-8-9, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

MASSAC COUNTY 67, GALATIA 48
The top-seeded Patriots pasted the Bearcats in the opening round.

Coach Joe Hosman's club led 20-0 early in the game and coasted into the quarterfinal round.

Senior guard Dustin Korte nailed four 3-pointers and finished with a team-best 16-points for the Pats who are now 13-0 on the season.

Sophomore guard Corey Ayala added 14 for Massac while Jarelle Johnson added 12 in the victory.

Andrew Wallace and Kobe Watson scored 15-points each for Galatia ().

Massac's win could have been much worse had Hosman's horses hit a better percentage from the foul line. Massac was just 2-of-12 from the stripe.

Galatia (48) – Reed 3 0 2-2 8, Wallace 2 3 2-2 15, Augustyniak 1 0 0-4 2, Watson 5 0 5-7 15, Cullum 2 0 0-0 4, Pickering 0 0 1-2 1, Tennison 0 0 0-0 0, Moore 0 1 0-0 3.
2FG-13, 3FG-4, FT-10-17, PF-11.
Massac County (67) – Bailey 1 0 0-2 2, Ayala 6 0 2-8 14, Johnson 3 2 0-0 12, Kester 0 0 0-0 0, Lang 3 0 0-0 6, Korte 2 4 0-0 16, Thigpen 1 1 0-0 5, Maxie 0 1 0-0 3, Henry 1 0 0-0 2, Morse 0 1 0-0 3, Glass 2 0 0-0 4, Sommer 0 0 0-2 0.
2FG-19, 3FG-9, FT-2-12, PF-13.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

HAMILTON COUNTY 47, NCOE 43
The Foxes survived a scare in the tournaments opening game.

In a poorly played game in the early morning – the Fighting Cardinals (7-4) couldn't muster enough offense to overcome double-digit turnovers and an 8-of-20 showing at the foul line.

Hamilton County (9-1) was led by Shelby Williams with 13-points and Seth Thomas with 12.

Jordan Weiss led NCOE with 13-points with Levi Hart chipping in 11.

NCOE (43) – Halfacre 0 0 0-4 0, Hart 4 0 3-4 11, Mitchell 1 0 1-2 3, Weiss 2 2 3-4 13, Kerns 2 0 1-2 5, Short 0 1 0-0 3, Etienne 4 0 0-4 8.
2FG-13, 3FG-3, FT-8-20, PF- 21.
Hamilton County (47) – Thomas 0 3 3-7 12, B. Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Williams 5 0 3-5 13, Reyling 0 0 3-4 3, J. Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Smith 4 0 2-5 10, Biggerstaff 3 0 0-0 6, Denham 0 0 0-0 0, Hoffinger 0 0 0-0 0, Irvin 1 0 0-0 3. 2FG-12, 3FG-4, FT-11-21, PF-15.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

CARMI-WHITE COUNTY 47, CENTURY 40
The Bulldogs rolled out to a 14-0 lead and then held on for the win.

Century rallied and got to within 39-37 win just under two minutes left before CWC closed out the game with six made free throws in the final moments.

Clay Metheny topped the Dawgs attack with 16-points while senior guard Travis Williams hit four 3-pointers and finished with 14.

Century's Chris Baker paced the Centurions with 13-points. Jacob Wyatt added 11.

Century (40) – C. Baker 5 1 0-0 13, J. Baker 3 0 1-4 7, Dunlap 0 0 0-0 0, Wyatt 4 0 3-4 11, Pullett 0 0 0-0 0, Clemons 3 0 0-0 6, Wright 0 1 0-0 3, Kimmins 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-15, 3FG-2, FT-4-8, PF-15.
Carmi-White County (47) – Williams 0 4 2-2 14, Matheny 5 0 6-9 16, Warren 4 0 0-0 8, Duvall 2 0 2-3 6, Watts 1 0 1-4 3, Krummel 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-12, 3FG-4, FT-11-18, PF-10.
Fouled Out – J. Baker – Century.
Technical Fouls – None.

HARRISBURG 77, HARDIN COUNTY 47
Breaking open a close game with a big second quarter – Harrisburg advanced with a 30-point triumph.

Russell Rambert and Cain Sheldon scored 19 and 18 points respectively in the landslide win.

The Bulldogs found themselves tied at 12-all at the end of one quarter before hammering Hardin County 25-14 the rest of the half.

Coach Randy Smithpeters' team improved to 10-1 on the season with 10 players scoring in the route.

The Cougars (4-4) were aided by three players hitting for double-figures led by 14-points from Ryan Davis. Jimmy Chitwood and Catlin Vaughn tossed in 12 points each.

Hardin County (47) – Cowsert 0 0 0-0 0, Chitwood 6 0 0-0 12, Joiner 1 1 2-2 7, R. Davis 4 0 6-7 14, Konrad 0 0 0-0 0, D. Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Vaughn 3 2 0-0 12, Soward 0 0 0-0 0, Paskon 0 0 0-0 0, McClenahan 0 0 0-0 0, Parkinson 0 0 0-0 0, Holloman 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-15, 3FG-3, Ft-8-9, PF-11.
Harrisburg (77) – Roper 0 2 0-0 6, Boatright 0 1 1-2 4, Sheldon 7 1 1-3 18, Rambert 7 5-6 19, Price 2 0 0-0 4, Elverd 2 0 0-0 4, Owen 3 0 0-0 6, Hodge 2 0 0-0 4, K. Rasch 1 0 0-0 2, King 4 0 2-5 10, Smithpeters 0 0 0-0 0, D. Rasch 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-28, 3FG-4, FT-9-19, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

MOUNDS MERIDIAN 65, GALLATIN COUNTY 30
The Bobcats struggled early but blew past the Hawks with a 25-2 third quarter pounding that turned an eight point lead into a 33-point lead with continuous clock in the fourth quarter.

Coach Jeff Mandrell's club improved to 9-1 overall with the win – thanks in part to senior guard Randle Hite's 13-points.

Isiah Jones added 10 markers to the total as 10-of-11 Bobcats who played put points in the book.

The Hawks were led by Quinton Drone with 11.

Gallatin County (30) – Drone 1 3 0-0 11, Steele 1 0 0-0 2, Hunt 2 0 1-4 5, Lowery 1 1 0-0 5, Charleton 0 0 0-0 0, Casteel 0 0 1-2 1, Grisham 0 0 0-0 0, Aud 0 1 1-2 4, Burklow 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-6, 3FG-3, FT-3-8, PF-5.
Mounds Meridian (65) – Jones 2 2 0-0 10, Amos 3 0 1-2 7, Hite 5 0 3-4 13, Kennedy 3 1 0-0 9, Hill 3 0 0-0 6, Nesby 2 0 1-1 5, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Jackson 1 0 0-0 2, Madison 1 0 0-0 2, McClung 3 1 0-0 9, Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Dickson 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-24, 3FG-4, FT-5-7, PF-10.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

ELDORADO 77, POPE COUNTY 42
The third-seeded Eagles rolled past Pope County by outscoring the Pirates 48-16 in the first half.

Four players finshed with double-figures in scoring for Coach Greg Goodley's club.

Cody Lane netter 17 to lead the Eagles into the quarterfinals set for Saturday.

Dakota Street added 15 points while Barry Parks (14) and Isaiah Cunningham (13) were the other players in double-figures.

Pope County's Gusten Wallace led all scorers with 18 in the loss.

Pope County (42) – Billington 4 0 1-2 9, B. Butler 1 0 0-0 2, Thompson 1 0 0-0 2, Wallace 5 2 2-4 18, Benard 2 0 3-6 7, Jackson 0 0 0-2 0, J. Butler 1 0 0-0 2, Carman 0 0 0-0 0, Clutts 0 0 0-0 0, Dunlap 0 0 0-0 0, Simmons 0 0 2-4 2, Twomey 0 0 0-0 0, Dunning 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-14, 3FG-2, FT-8-18, PF-16.
Eldorado (77) – Parks 5 1 1-1 14, Lane 5 1 4-5 17, Cunningham 4 1 2-2 13, Johnson 2 0 2-2 6, Street 7 0 1-1 15, Weir 3 0 2-3 8, Houseright 1 0 2-2 4, Monroe 0 0 0-0 0, Langley 0 0 0-0 0, Griffin 0 0 0-0 0, Lowery 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-27, 3FG-3, FT-14-16, PF-16.
Fouled Out – B. Butler - Pope County.
Technical Fouls – None.

CARRIER MILLS 58, WEST FRANKFORT 47
The Wildcats advanced into the winners bracket with a win over winless West Frankfort in the final first round matchup.

Head coach Mark Motsinger has his club playing well at 8-2 on the season and will take on Eldorado on Saturday in the quarterfinal round.

CM was led by Luke Morgan with 19 points. Wyatt Kirkland chipped home 17 points with Travis Bedding adding 13.

Ashten Ashtiani was the leading Redbird in scoring with 14 followed by 10 points from Dalton Woolard with 10.

West Frankfort (47) – Simelton 4 0 1-4 9, Murphy 2 0 0-0 4, O'Keefe 1 0 6-8 8, Ashtiani 7 0 0-1 14, Woolard 2 2 0-0 10, Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Allen 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-17, 3FG-2, FT-7-13, PF-20.
Carrier Mills (58) – Beeding 4 0 5-6 13, Morgan 8 0 3-5 19, Nichols 1 1 2-2 7, Kirkland 2 3 4-6 17, Miller 0 0 2-5 2, Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Harrison 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-15, 3FG-4, FT-16-24, PF-15.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

NCOE 60, GALLATIN COUNTY 40
The Fighting Cardinals eliminated the Hawks in the final game played Friday night at Duff-Kingston Gym.

Coach Doug Miller's crew exacted some GEC revenge on its league foe with a 20-point win.

NCOE (8-4) got another good scoring effort from Jordan Weiss who added 18-points for the Cards. Zach Halfacre and Cody Ettienne added 12 and 10.

Jared Hunt's 19-points led Gallatin County (3-8) who lost its first two games of the day by a combined 55-points.