12-28-10
BY JACK BULLOCK
PINCKNEYVILLE – The same formula for winning basketball games at Pinckneyville was showcased on Saturday night in the final game of the Duster Thomas “Hoops' Classic” on Tuesday night.

A strong defensive effort to go with the usual rebounding prowess propelled the host Panthers' to the schools' first ever title triumph in the four-year history of the Christmas event.

Head coach Bob Waggoner saw his club struggle offensively in the early part of the season but the Panthers put it all together with a 4-0 week that was culminated with a 57-32 whipping of two-time defending champion Olney-East Richland.

Holding the Tigers to just 11-of-30 shooting in the contest and out-rebounding the Orange and Black clad defending champs – Pinckneyville improved to 7-4 on the season with the resounding win.

Nailing eight 3-pointers in the contest and connecting on 20-of-32 overall attempts – Pinckneyville got the big prize after three years of watching Olney (twice) and Teutopolis (once) wear the crown.

“We always pride ourselves and put our hats on playing defense and I think that all year our defense has been there but we have struggled offensively,” said victorious head coach Bob Waggoner. “Our guard play has improved tremendously. The big thing is being an inexperienced team and not playing with each other much we are finally finding a comfort level.”Olney-East Richland and head coach Rob Flanagan started strong but wilted after three tough games in the previous 24-hours.

A big second quarter push by Pinckneyville dropped the young Tigers to 9-2 overall.

“I'm really proud of our kids but Pinckneyville was “lights-out” and tonight was their night,” said Coach Flanagan. “I've been in this game long enough to know you tip your hat to them. I thought their size and physicality tonight bothered us.”

After spotting the Tigers an early advantage – the Panthers' warmed up in a hurry from behind the 3-point arc.

Brian Schute – a 5-foot-8 junior guard – scored 13-points and connected from long range to give Pinckneyville a 9-6 lead at the 2:18 mark of the first quarter.

Teammate Christian Shopinski nailed another trey to give the Panthers a 12-9 lead in the first few moments of the second quarter.

Pinckneyville wouldn't surrender the lead from Olney the rest of the way.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Kyle Lamb scored a pair of buckets in an 11-2 scoring burst that pushed Pinckneyville to a 25-14 halftime advantage.

The 6-foot-7 senior helped exploit the Tigers lack of size in the front-court as he matched Shopinski with 13-points.

Holding Olney to just a single field goal in the second quarter – Pinckneyville's defensive effort took the Tigers out of any rhythm offensively.

Pinckneyville nailed 7-of-9 shots in the second quarter and forced Olney into eight first half turnovers.

Hunter Queen led all scorers on the night for Pinckneyville with 14-points and he scored eight of his points during a 10-2 run that opened the second half and closed the book on Olney's championship quest.

Queen was 4-of-4 from behind the 3-point line and his second consecutive trifecta - after taking a nice pass from Lamb - made it 35-16 with 3:53 to go in the third quarter.

Olney's Brook Pampe led his team with 10-points and he hit his only 3-pointer to trigger a brief 7-0 sprint for the Tigers in the third quarter.

However another Queen trey finished the frame at 38-23 Panthers.

Pinckneyville gradually pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Two more 3-pointers by Queen and Schute highlighted a 16-2 run that pushed the lead to its largest at 57-32 before the coaches cleared the benches.

Lamb cemented his MVP honors with seven more points in the run - including a conventional three-point play.

Olney was a bitter cold 36.7 percent overall and were just 2-of-12 from behind the arc.

The smallish Tigers were held to just a pair of offensive rebounds while being out-boarded 17-13.

Pinckneyville was a scorching 8-of-10 from behind the arc and hit 58.8 percent overall for the championship contest.

“We talked about Olney's defense and if you are willing to play “inside-out” or skip the ball the outside shots are going to be there,” added Coach Waggoner. “You have to give our guards credit because they were all hitting tonight. Having your feet ready and be willing to take those shots is big. Early in the year the guys were a bit hesitant because they weren't sure if they could shoot it or not. Tonight they were ready and we needed them to knock them down to open things up inside.”

Olney-East Richland (32) – Totten 2 0 2-2 6, Fehrenbacher 1 1 0-0 5, Epperheimer 1 0 0-0 2, Eagelson 3 0 0-0 6, Pampe 1 1 5-6 10, Bailey 0 0 0-0 0, Washburn 1 0 0-0 2, Phillips 0 0 2-2 2, Stallard 0 0 1-2 1, St. Pierre 0 0 0-0 0, Aldridge 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-9, 3FG-2, FT-10-12, PF-17.
Pinckneyville (57) – Nippe 1 1 0-0 5, Brueggman 3 0 1-1 7, Lamb 5 0 3-3 13, Shute 2 2 3-4 13, Queen 0 4 2-2 14, Opp 0 0 0-0 0, Shopinski 1 1 0-0 5, Priebe 0 0 0-0 0, Kellerman 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-11, 3FG-9, FT-9-10, PF-11.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – Fehrenbacher - Olney-East Richland.

DU QUOIN 70, METRO-EAST LUTHERAN 28
The Indians took home third place in the event with a crushing of the Knights.

Four Du Quoin players hit for double-figures in the lopsided win.

Six-foot-three junior forward Sam Gossett led the attack with 16-points while Seth Baxter added 14.

The guard tandem of Connor Wheeler and J.C. Davis added 11 and 10 points respectively.

Jacob Fanshier led Metro-East Lutheran (5-9) with 10-points.

Coach Gabe Sveda saw his Tribe improve to 9-1 overall with the win.