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Lady Indians Tip-Off Classic: Du Quoin Notches Second Victory

Posted November 19, 2009 10:00 pm

Jeff Profitt

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[As the 7th Annual Lady Indians Tip-Off Classic moves towards its halfway mark, three teams share the top spot with 2-0 records.

Defending champion Johnston City, Murphysboro and host Du Quoin all posted lopsided victories in round two Thursday night.

Action continues with three more games in Anders Memorial Gymnasium Friday.

Murphysboro defeated Elverado 49-21 to start the second session with Johnston City handling Steeleville (49-26) and Du Quoin winning over Chester, 60-44.

Du Quoin's victory- its second straight after ending last season on a 22-loss skid- came despite a flying start by Chester (0-2).

The Lady Indians fell behind 6-0 barely two minutes into the game and were down 10-2 at the 4:16 mark when coach Shawn File called a timeout.

A 14-0 run would end the period and put Du Quoin on top to stay. Three consecutive steals produced baskets by Megi Jones, Keawna Anders and Curry Emling as the Lady Indians forged ahead.

"We needed that early timeout just to settle the girls down a little bit," File said. "Chester's pressure kind of rattled us at the beginning. They are a scrappy and physical team that sort of punched us in the mouth. I was proud of how our girls didn't give in and just started to fight back."

And fight back they did.

Du Quoin's run reached 25-1 with 4:10 left before intermission. Hillary Best finally ended the Lady "Jackets drought with a foul toss and short jump shot.

Du Quoin went to the halftime break leading 35-23 and scored six unanswered points on hoops by Anders, Hirsch and Rebekah Maddox to quickly forge ahead 41-23.

As the quarter ended, the Lady Indians enjoyed a 49-31 cushion. Chester would briefly slice the Du Quoin lead to a dozen early in the fourth before Hirsch's three-ball and a rebound bucket from Anders sealed things for good.

A smooth 6-foot freshman post player, Maddox again led Du Quoin. She scored a game-high 21 points and had nine rebounds.

Hirsch (15 points, five rebounds, three steals, eight assists) was again solid.

Anders had 11 points and nine boards.

Ashley Ward and Maddox each added four steals.

Three Chester scorers- Best, Christy Pulliam and Jordan Clendenin- all netted eight points.

"Jessica Hirsch had a tremendous floor game," File said. "Keawna Anders and Rebekah Maddox were huge for us inside. Anders just has got a knack for getting offensive rebounds."

Pressure defense by the Lady Tribe produced 26 Chester turnovers. The Lady 'Jackets, however, were also tenacious on the defensive end as Du Quoin totalled 16 miscues.

"40 points is kind of the magic number for us defensively," said File. "Usually if a team gives 40 points or less they'll win. We were right there again tonight.The 60 (points) on our side, though is a good thing to see.

Friday at 8:30, Du Quoin battles Johnston City.

Anders had 11 points and nine boards. Ashley Ward and Maddox each added four steals.

Three Chester scorers- Best, Christy Pulliam and Jordan Clendenin- all netted eight points.

"Jessica Hirsch had a tremendous floor game," File said. "Keawna Anders and Rebekah Maddox were huge for us inside. Anders just has got a knack for getting offensive rebounds."

Pressure defense by the Lady Tribe produced 26 Chester turnovers.

The Lady 'Jackets, however, were also tenacious on the defensive end as Du Quoin totalled 16 miscues.

"40 points is kind of the magic number for us defensively," said File. "Usually if a team gives 40 points or less they'll win. We were right there again tonight."

JOHNSTON CITY 39, STEELEVILLE 26

Marissa Montgomery scored 20 points and Johnston City jumped out to a 20-4 halftime lead in thumping Steeleville, 39-26, in the second session middle game.

Carley Bunting added seven points, while Jessa Thomas and Allison Smiley had four each for the Lady Indians, who took a 28-13 lead into the fourth quarter and hung on despite going 3-of-13 from the foul line.

Steeleville (0-2) was paced by the 10 points of Jill Winkelman and Natalie Ruebke's nine.

Johnston City opened a 20-4 halftime edge as Steeleville managed only field goals by Ruebke and Winkelman in the opening quarter.

Steeleville cut the J'City margin down to just 11 with four minutes left, but could get no closer.

MURPHYSBORO 49, ELVERADO 21

Frigid shooting and turnovers were again the main culprits as Elverado's offensive woes continued.

The Lady Falcons, 0-2, managed only eight field goals and committed 33 turnovers against Murphysboro's (2-0) constant pressure defense.

Elverado was down 31-9 by halftime and endured several long scoring droughts.

"Right now we just aren't playing very well," Lady Falcons coach Lance Bedar said. "We are struggling to score."

Halyley Hines (13) and Alyssa Sturgeon (12) led the Lady Red Devils.

Bedar's squad had seven points from Chelsea Cochran with senior Courtney Morse hitting five.

7th Annual Lady Indians Tip-Off Classic