(Brookville, IN) — The Jennings County Panthers seized control early and never let go Saturday night, defeating No. 3 Greensburg 65-47 to capture the Sectional 29 championship at Franklin County High School.
In a reversal from their regular season meeting—a 49-36 loss to the Pirates on Jan. 3—the No. 8 Panthers (18-6) delivered their best performance of the season when it mattered most.
Jennings County opened the game with an unconscious shooting display, connecting on six three-pointers in the first quarter alone. The barrage included makes from unlikely sources as role players stepped into the spotlight alongside the Panthers’ stars, building a 20-8 lead after eight minutes.
Kristi Sigler’s Panthers, in the coach’s 10th season, entered Saturday night’s championship with momentum after defeating Lawrenceburg 47-33 in Friday’s semifinals, with Ernstes scoring 16 and Young adding 15 in that victory.
The knockout punch came in the second quarter. Jennings County held Greensburg to just four points while adding 18 of their own to build a stunning 38-12 halftime advantage—a 26-point margin that proved insurmountable despite a spirited second-half rally by the Pirates.
Junior Etta Young paced all scorers with 22 points, repeatedly finding seams in Greensburg’s collapsing defense for crucial baskets. Kansas-bound senior Mollie Ernstes, averaging 24 points per game entering the contest, contributed 16 points despite facing constant double and triple teams.
Greensburg coach Jason Simpson, in his 12th season, watched his team struggle from the opening tip. The Pirates managed just 12 first-half points while committing multiple turnovers against Jennings County’s aggressive pressure defense.
Senior Riley Byford added 14 points for the Panthers, while the supporting cast delivered critical contributions. Junior Addison Petro drained a three-pointer in the opening salvo, and senior Kaydence Lowman hit a pair of triples that energized J.C. fans who made the trip to Franklin County High School.
Greensburg (19-7) struggled to find its rhythm against Jennings County’s pressure defense, shooting below its season average from the perimeter in the first half. The Pirates worked to establish junior star Claire Larrison in the paint, but the Panthers’ help defense limited her opportunities. Larrison, who averages 22 points per game, finished with 14 on a difficult night.
Senior Aly Powers, a four-year starter, led the Pirates with 19 points but battled foul trouble throughout. A technical foul in the second quarter sent Jennings County to the free-throw line for four attempts and halted any momentum Greensburg tried to build.
Powers was one of three Greensburg seniors playing their final game alongside Emma Kuntz and Mary Harmon. Harmon, who scored 11 points, provided one of few bright spots for the Pirates. But Greensburg’s offensive struggles in the first half—particularly the four-point second quarter—left too large a mountain to climb.
The Pirates showed resilience in the second half, outscoring Jennings County 35-27 over the final 16 minutes. Greensburg cut the deficit to 13 points in the fourth quarter behind improved shooting from beyond the arc, but Young and Ernstes had answers every time the Panthers needed a basket.
The win gives Jennings County its 11th sectional championship in program history and first since 2005. The Panthers advance to regional play, where they’ll face No. 2 Silver Creek (19-5) at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at Charlestown High School. The Dragons won their sectional championship Saturday night. It will be a formidable test against the defending Class 3A state champion.
Greensburg defeated Batesville 60-37 in Friday’s semifinals behind 22 points from Larrison and 19 from Powers, but faced a Jennings County team playing its best basketball of the season in Saturday’s final.
The Panthers will take a 31-year quest for a regional championship into their Feb. 14 matchup with Silver Creek, having already achieved their goal of bringing a sectional title back to North Vernon for the first time since 2005.