Lady Panthers Carry Lofty Expectations

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Coming off its best season ever- a memorable 22-8 campaign that included irst-ever regional and Hamilton County tournament championships-the bar of excellence has been set very high for Pinckneyville Community High School's Girls Basketball team.

With eight returning letter winners, three of those starters, its easy to see why good things are again expected.

"I think our kids got a real taste for winning and now they are expecting success," fourth year coach Alan Engelhardt (48-28) says.

"After winning our first regional, the girls have set the standard even higher and are trying to take aim at winning a sectional crown."

Engelhardt builds this winter's edition of the Lady Panthers around returning River-to-River Conference all-league players Mandi Kellerman (5'8, sr., F) and Emily Miller (5'3, jr., G). Becky Vanderjack (5'8, sr.) is back as Miller's backcourt running mate.

Dani Jenkel (5'7, so., F), Taylor Cicardi (5'10, so., F), Leah Eisenhauer (5'8, sr., G), Brianna Sanders (5'9, jr., C) and Maddy Keith (5'10, so., F) complete the list of returning letter winners.

"Mandi Kellerman is one of the top defenders in the south and Emily Miller does a great job defending and as floor general," Engelhardt said. "Becky Vanderjack has worked hard to improve as a defender and offensive threat."

Jenkel, Cicardi, Keith and Sanders are competing with Eisenhauer for the final starting spots. Two other sophomores, Taylor Kuhnert (5'7, F) and Cheyenne Conner (5'3, G) round out the varsity roster.

"We have some capable girls," Engelhardt said. "I think the biggest obstacle right now for this team may be consistency. Overall we are more athletic than last year and its our best team in terms of getting up and down the floor, but we haven't been consistent enough in practice so far."

The Lady Panthers open defense of their Hamilton County tournament title Nov. 25 against Gallatin County. Besides the usual SIRR, Mississippi home-and-home grind versus Nashville, Sparta, Anna-Jonesboro, Chester and Du Quoin, the Lady Panthers again play at the Herrin Holiday Classic.

Pinckneyville's no longer part of the Carbondale Mid-Winter Invite, but has added perennial powers Okawville, Carlyle and Vandalia to its schedule. Benton, Trico-Steeleville, Carterville, Murphysboro and Sesser-Valier/Waltonville return as the other non-league affairs.

Engelhardt's coaching staff again includes Kristie Sheppard and Artie Ashbrook.