Jr. High Round Up: T/SB Girls Win Regional Opener
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) Class S Region III Regional tournament play began Wednesday night at St. Bruno's Parrish Hall with three games.
In the opener, host Tamaroa/St. Bruno's eliminated Red Bud Lutheran in thrilling fashion, 36-33.
The Lady Indians are 14-12 and play #1 seed Pinckneyville (#204) Friday night at 6 p.m.. St. Libory ousted Steeleville (St. Mark's) and Red Bud Catholic downed Chester (St. John's) in Wednesday's other action.
"We were 10-for-13 from the free throw line and played well tonight on defense," T/SB coach Jim Harris said.
Dani SchoenbacherÑwho again led T/SB in points (24) and rebounds (13)Ñsank all 10 of her foul shots.
Haley Szczepanski finished with eight points.
Bailey Nippe added six assists and six rebounds. Schoenbacher, Szczepanski and Nippe also contributed three steals.
JR. PANTHERS EASE PAST OKAWVILLE
Pinckneyville (Junior High School) hiked its varsity record to 10-9 Tuesday, winning a rescheduled game over Okawville (Junior High School).
The final score was 45-29.
PJHS is 10-9 and plays Christopher next Tuesday.
Chaz Ruffino (11) and Logan Woods (10) each broke into double figures with Christopher Priebe adding seven points.
Ruffino converted on three three-point baskets.
In the seventh grade game, PJHS pulled out a 49-48 overtime victory.
T/SB TAKES OUT WALTONVILLE
Tamaroa/St. Bruno avenged an early season loss Wednesday, besting Waltonville 39-31.
The Indians are 16-5.
Dylan Hardin scored 19 points with Daulton Hubler adding 10 points, 18 rebounds and six steals.
T/SB was ahead 24-16 at halftime and maintained that margin over the final two quarters.
Kelton Lively added four points for T/SB with the trio of Phillip Catt, Zach Phillips and Nolan Luke all scoring two.
In seventh grade play, Waltonville pulled away to win 36-23.
Dayne Winter (seven) and Nolan Luke (six) were the top scorers for T/SB.
ELVERADO SWEEPS DeSOTO
Elverado (Junior High School) ended its boys regular season with a 13-9 record Wednesday, ripping visiting DeSoto (Grade School) 64-29.
The win avenged a double-digit loss against the Rangers back in November.
"It was a 51-point turnaround," Junior Falcons coach Garrett Janello calculated." We had an 18-point halftime lead and I felt the third quarter would be the key. As it turned out, we outscored them 17-6 and put the game away."
Josh Sarensen led EJHS with 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Austin Mapps netted 15 more points with Jake Lipe adding 13 and Brian McClanahan nine.
EJHS also rolled to a lopsided win in the preliminary contest, 57-23.
Jacob Hunsaker had 15 points with Jordan Curtis and Will Keller each scoring 12.
Janello also confirmed that EJHS has been named host for the Class M Regional, which begins with two games on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
The top-seed Junior Falcons meet Unity Point at 6 p.m. with Shawnee and Cobden playing the 7:30 game.
The finals are played Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 o'clock.