Thursday's Junior High Roundup: Rare League Loss for Warriors, PJHS Rolls
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Junior Southwestern Egyptian Conference (Jr. SWEC) losses are a rarity most years for Du Quoin (Middle School). Thursday night, however, the Warriors suffered their second loss in six league starts and now trail Murphysboro (Middle School) and Nashville (Middle School) in the title chase, following a 38-34 home loss to Nashville.
DMS is 7-3 overall, 4-2 within the Jr. SWEC.
"We played hard we just didn't always play smart," Warriors coach Ryan Heape admitted.
"When we learn that every possession in a ballgame counts and begin to value the ball more, then we'll begin to win these close ballgames."
Spencer Cook scored a game-high 14 points for DMS and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Dalton Bigham netted nine points and Camden Mercier had six points and six assists.
Cook also had a team-best three steals with Jason Nelson swatting away three Nashville shots.
The visitors enjoyed a 14-7 edge over DMS in offensive rebounding and Du Quoin committed a season's worst 26 turnovers.
SEVENTH GRADE WINS
In thrilling fashion, DMS won the preliminary game Thursday 38-37.
The young Warriors are 9-1, 5-1 in Junior Southwestern Egyptian Conference (Jr. SWEC) play.
Will Galik (13) and Noah Campbell (11) were points leaders for DMS with AJ Smith and Matthew Galik each netting a pair of baskets.
Jacob Valier hit two three-pointers, the last giving Du Quoin the lead late in the contest.
Monday night, the Warriors suffered their first loss with a 36-32 decision at Murphysboro.
PJHS BLASTS BENTON
Wednesday night, the Junior Panthers used strong middle quarters to pull away for a 74-49 victory over Benton (Middle School).
PJHS outscored Benton 42-22 during the second and third periods, enjoying its best offensive output of the season.
Chase Lazenby had 19 points with Justyn Rushing adding 17 points and Robbie Mueller nine.
Brayden Cowley and Zach Hester each netted eight points with Lucas Carter adding seven.
Josh Downard (four) and David Niemeyer (two) completed the scoring.
PJHS also won the seventh grade game.