DMS Warriors Tip-Off Classic: Salem, Warriors Easy Winners
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Salem (Franklin Park Middle School) and host Du Quoin (Middle School) were lopsided winners as the 10th Annual DMS Warriors Tip-Off Classic opened Monday night.
Play continues with two more games on Wednesday and then wraps up with Friday's final round.
Tourney newcomer Salem blitzed defending champion Benton (Middle School) 73-19 and DMS rolled past Trico (Junior High School) 62-38 in the nightcap.
A preliminary game was held prior to the varsity contests, with Du Quoin winning over Trico, 44-24.
The host Warriors built an early double digit lead against Trico and were in front 33-18 by halftime.
Spencer Cook paced DMS with 18 points-hitting nine of 10 shots from the floor while also hauling down five rebounds. Jason Nelson (10 points, seven rebounds) was also solid inside.
Camden Mercier, Dalton Bigham, Nelson and Matt Galik all dished out three assists with Mercier, M. Galik and Will Galik posting three steals. The biggest lead for DMS was 45-20 after a basket from Dalton Bigham.
"I'm excited about our potential if we continue to work and play as hard as we can every night," Warriors coach Ryan Heape said. "So far we have been very unselfish and had fairly balanced scoring."
DMS, now 2-0 overall, plays Benton at 7:30 Wednesday.
In the seventh grade game, Du Quoin held just a 20-17 halftime lead before Trico went scoreless in the third quarter and managed just two field goals in the final half.
A.J. Smith and Noah Campbell each had 10 points with Jerry Kuhnet adding eight.
Du Quoin will play Benton in Wednesday's 5 o'clock game. Salem and Trico are scheduled for 6:00.
DMS 7th Grade 44,
Trico 7th Grade 24
DMS scoring: Matt Galik 4, Will Galik 4, AJ Smith 10, Noah Campbell 10, Jerry Kuhnert 8, Nolan Showalter 2, Jacob Valier 4, Jacob Wright 2.
DMS 62,
Trico
DMS scoring: Camden Mercier 6, Dalton Bigham 2, Spencer Cook 18, Jason Nelson 10, Will Galik 2, Kody Hess 2, Camden Youngman 4, AJ Smith 4, Matt Galik 5, Jerry Kuhnert 0, Noah Campbell 3, Nolan Showalter 2, Griffin Vale 4.