A night after shooting 52.5 percent from the floor, Collinsville struggled through a 37 percent performance in a 54-49 loss at Jerseyville in the opening game of the Jerseyville Tournament.

Anfirnee Wilkinson / Photo by Roger Starkey

The Kahoks managed only 8 first quarter point and had tallied only 27 entering the fourth quarter. Trailing by 14 as the final eight minutes started, Collinsville (6-10) rallied to pull within two. At one point the Kahoks had the ball trailing by two, but could not convert.

Collinsville used four 3-pointers in the final quarter to close the gap, but they had already dug too large a hole from poor shooting and defense, Head Coach Darin Lee said. “We didn’t shoot well early nor did we guard very well,” Lee said.

Jerseyville (10-6) used dribble penetration to break down the Kahoks defense forcing the CHS big men to help, Lee said. The help defense created close-range opportunities for Jake Varbel, who took advantage to score a game-high 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting.

The Kahoks had trouble finding their big men, who were held in check. “They didn’t get established low enough, then they double-teamed,” Lee said. “Sometimes it’s up to them to find an open guy.”

Sean Davis notched 5 points, three on free throws. Emondre Rickman and Harrison Wethers scored four points each.

Brett Langley lead Collinsville with 11 points. Anfirnee Wilkinson and Jacob Shaffer scored 10 each. The trio had managed only a combined 14 points through the first three quarters, before lighting it up for 17 in the fourth. Nic Gonet scored two points and Ronnie Midgett three to round out the Kahoks scorers.

This is the second consecutive year the Panthers have beaten Collinsville. “It’s the same team that beat us last year,” Lee said. “They did play well against us. We haven’t played well against them. It’s disappointing.”

Collinsville returns to Jerseyville Monday for the second of four games in the weeklong round-robin tournament. The Kahoks play a 4:30 p.m. contest against Alton Marquette.