PANTHERS HOLD OFF SEYMOUR

Jennings advances with a 60-53 victory

By Greg Mengelt of Inside the Game

Jennings County jumped out to a 15-2 lead over Seymour, then had to hold on for its life as the Owls went on a 26-9 second-half run to cut the Panthers' lead to 53-47 after a Brandon Polbito 3-pointer with 1:16 left.

The Panthers, who had hit just 2 of 12 foul shots through the first 28 minutes, hit all seven of eight from the charity stripe in the final minute to secure a 60-53 victory. They will face Jeffersonville, a 58-57 overtime winner over Floyd Central on Tuesday, in Friday's Sectional 15 semifinal at Seymour.

Jennings County led 44-21 in the third quarter before Seymour's monster run. The Owls, who had just 21 points through three quarters, finished with 32 fourth-quarter points.

"We knew they were going to make a run," JC coach George Grubbs admitted.

Jonathan Webster went 4 for 4 from the foul line in the final minute, while Brock Hurtle went 3 for 4. Webster also had a key assist to J.P. Hyden in the waning moments. Hyden led Jennings County with 18 points. Webster only scored four, but they were an important four, Grubbs said.

"Webby stepped up and made some big free throws," he said.

Kellen Begeman scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half. Zach Fields finished with 10 points, Hurtle nine.

Trimnell led the Owls -- whose injury-plagued season ends with a 10-11 mark -- with 15 points. Reagan Eakins added 11 points, Polbito had 10, Nolan Fife nine and Trevor Thompson seven.

The win was the second over Seymour by Jennings County, which is now 14-7.