Sims' 19 Points Help Lift Panthers to 3-0
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Pinckneyville improved to 3-0 behind a strong defensive effort and 19 points from Cody Sims as the Panthers handled Gibault High School 49-39 last night in Waterloo.
Foul trouble kept getting the better of the Panthers in the first half, as Gibault scored 12 of their 18 first half points at the line, and only had one field goal in the first 15 minutes of play.
"We use our hands too much, referees are going to call big arm movement, and we have to get them to understand that," said Panthers' head coach Bob Waggoner.
The Panthers jumped out to an 11-3 lead after one, thanks in part to Shay Kellerman's three-pointer as time was expiring in the period.
The Hawks struggled against a stingy Pinckneyville defense, scoring their only field goal of the period on a jumper by Kyle Prader.
"I never felt this game was in jeopardy, after seeing the way we were guarding" said Waggoner, proud of the effort put forth by his defense.
Pinckneyville looked like they could pull away early in the second quarter, as Jake Bathon tipped in a miss by Sims, and Sims followed by scoring in the post to put the Panthers ahead 17-4 as Hawks' coach Dennis Rueter asked for timeout with 6:11 remaining in the half.
With both teams in the bonus early in the second quarter, free throw shooting became key on both sides, but five fouls in the final three minutes of the half by the Panthers would keep Gibault in the game.
Jake Cooper was fouled on an basket inside and added the free throw with 30.6 seconds to play, and after the Panthers turned it over on offense, Sean McFarland hit a jumper for two just before the halftime buzzer to cut the lead to 24-18. The Panthers did not score in the final 2:45 of the half.
Dustin Winter's layup just before the end of the third quarter put the Panthers on top 38-28, and he would add a big three-pointer with 5:35 to play in the game that gave Pinckneyville a 45-32 advantage.
Sims would add two late free throws to help hold off the Hawks, who never got closer than the six points they trailed at the half.
The Panthers shot 43% for the game (19-of-44) while committing a season low for turnovers with 8. Gibault would committ 16 turnovers, shooting only 37 % (10-of-27).
S. Kellerman (11 points) and Winter (10) joined Sims in double figures, Bryant Lively finished with 4, Bathon and Kyle Lamb 2 and Derek Kellerman 1.
Pinckneyville will try to stay perfect on the season Tuesday at Murphysboro before finally getting their home opener vs. Nashville on Friday.
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