Indians hoping to turn it around this weekend

A basket here or there, or a run or a turnover ... and Du Quoin wouldn't be stuck in a five-game losing streak heading into the final two weeks of the season. The Indians lost to Benton, 58-45, on the road in a nonconference boys basketball game Tuesday.

"We just got to continue to work and improve," said Du Quoin coach Jason James. "I thought we played a lot better against Benton and we just have to carry that over and continue to get good effort and hopefully get some wins along the way."

Du Quoin (8-17, 1-6 Mississippi Division) returns to the conference wars hosting Sparta (11-14, 1-6 Mississippi) Friday night and Anna-Jonesboro (10-17, 2-5 Mississippi) Saturday on Senior Night. The Bulldogs come in on a three-game losing streak and the Wildcats on a two-game skid.

"Both of these games are winnable games because we're all about the same," James said. "We will have to improve our defense if we want to come out on top."

At Benton the Indians finished with three players in double-digit scoring, led by Jacob Green with 13 points, including three from beyond the arc, to tie for the game lead with Benton's Reid Baumgarte. Braeden Pursell and Jadin Mays finished with 11 points each and Wade Roberson had eight.

"I thought we did a better job of moving the ball and finding the open person," James said. "When we held the ball we just stood around and watched. We are much better when we keep the ball moving."

The Indians trailed 8-5 after the first quarter and the Rangers took control in the second doubling up Du Quoin to take a 10-point lead in the half.

"Both teams played pretty good defense in that first quarter with both teams limited to one shot and out," James said. "They then hit a couple of contested shots and got some runouts on some turnovers."

The Indians rallied in the third quarter almost doubling their first half output to cut the lead to six heading into the fourth quarter. Green led with seven points with Mays scoring five, Roberson four, Pursell three and Dasani Edward two.

"We just talked about getting the best shot and not the first shot (at halftime) and we actually knocked down some jumpers," James said. "Both teams where just trading basketballs (in the second half)."

Behind 10 points from Baumgarte the Rangers closed out the game outscoring the Indians 19-12. The Rangers had four in double figures with Carson Lewis. Jacob Seidel and Reece Johnson scoring 12 points each.