Panthers 2-0 at B.I.T.

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Free throw shooting was again key for Pinckneyville, as the Panthers went 8-for-9 at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter to hold off Okawville 35-27 last night in Benton Invitational Tournament action.

The Rockets, who have played a handful of games in the 20's this season, made a number of key turnovers late in the game that allowed to Panthers to hang on for their seventh straight victory overall, and twenty-fourth in a row at the B.I.T.

After a sluggish first quarter ended in a 6-6 tie, neither team found the bucket in the second quarter until Dustin Winter made good on a three-pointer with 5:39 to go in the half.

Taylor Pyatt's bucket put the Panthers up five, but the Rockets closed out the half on a 6-0 run capped off by Tyler Brammeier's putback with 2:10 on the clock.

Another Winter three, and two more from Nathan Morton and Derek Kellerman in the third period helped the Panthers to a 24-19 lead early in the fourth, but once again Okawville scored six unanswered points to reclaim the lead with just over five minutes to play.

After a Pinckneyville timeout, Shay Kellerman made a nifty pass to find Morton who put the Panthers back on top for good.

S. Kellerman was good on all four of his free throw attempts in the fourth, and added to the lead with free ones near the four-minute mark.

After an Okawville turnover forced them into a fouling situation with under two minutes to play, the Rockets had to commit four quick fouls to reach the bonus, as they had only been whistled for three team fouls at that point of the second half.

Winter sank both of his attempts after the seventh Rockets' team foul, and Cullan Barkau was called for travelling on the ensueing Okawville possession.

Free throws from Morton and Drew Dudek, and a long pass from S. Kellerman to Morton for an easy two with just seconds remaining kept the Rockets at bay.

The Panthers forced 16 Okawville turnovers while committing 12 of their own.

Morton led all scorers with 10 points, Winter added 8, S. Kellerman 6, Cody Sims 4, D. Kellerman 3 and Dudek and Pyatt 2. Barkau led the Rockets with 8 points.

The host Benton Rangers are up next for Pinckneyville (13-4, 2-0 B.I.T) with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday night.

Okawville 6 6 7 8-27

PCHS 6 5 11 13-35

Okawville: Barkau 3 2-3 8, Weeke 2 2-4 7, Z. Brammier 1 0-0 2, Clary 3 0-0 6, T. Brammier 2 0-0 4. Totals 11 4-7 27.

Pinckneyville: Dudek 0 2-2 2, Winter 2 2-2 8, D. Kellerman 1 0-0 3, Pyatt 1 0-0 2, Sims 1 2-4 2, Morton 4 1-4 10, S. Kellerman 1 4-4 6. Totals 10 11-16 35.

3-pointers: Okaw 1 (Weeke), PV 4 (Winter 2, Morton, D. Kellerman)

BENTON, HAMCO WIN

It's not exactly scientific fact, but the Benton Rangers figured out how long it takes to go from agony to ecstasy Wednesday night - 4.3 seconds.

Down 57-56 with 4.3 seconds left in overtime against Carlyle, Benton inbounded the ball to Tim Corn, who went coast-to-coast and dropped in the game winner as the horn sounded to give the Rangers a thrilling 58-57 win.

Hamilton County picked up its first win with a 65-63 win over Cairo in the middle game.

The Rangers and Panthers lead the way with 2-0 records, Hamilton County is 1-1, and Okawville and Cairo dropped to 0-2.