Girls Prep Basketbal: Lady Indians Bounce Back with Road Win
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Despite early game foul woes and cold first half shooting, Du Quoin High School's girls basketball team managed to notch its eighth win in 11 starts Monday night.
The Lady Indians outscored host Century 37-13 in the final two quarters, rolling to a 62-38 road victory. Du Quoin, 8-3, plays its final game prior to the extended break when it visits a powerful Nashville team Tuesday night.
"I am pretty proud of these girls," Lady Indians coach Shawn File said.
"We had a lot of early foul trouble and just couldn't get any shots to fall at the start. It was a very physical game and our girls responded. When Century pushed, we pushed back even harder and refused to back down."
Monday's long and winding bus trip to Ullin didn't appear to be a factor early as the Lady Tribe-despite two fouls on Jessica Hirsch in the first two minutes-jumped ahead 7-3.
Century, however, would respond and carried a 15-13 edge after the opening quarter as 1,000-point career scorer junior Kayla Eddington tossed in eight of her team-best 11 points.
The Lady Indians trailed until a conventional three-point play with 42.2 seconds remaining before half made the score 23-22.
Century (5-5) briefly regained the lead on a runner by Savannah Butler, only to see Du Quoin knot the score 25-25 on Steffanie Gates' shot from just inside the elbow at the 27.7 second mark.
"I really want to compliment Curry Emling, Magen Edwards, Cassidy Rice and Ashley Ward," File said. "With the foul trouble we had they really stepped things up and helped us just keep the game close."
Despite Hirsch and center Rebekah Maddox spending most of the first half on the bench with foul woes, Du Quoin's transition offense and pressure defense took its toll on the Lady Centurions.
Eddington was double-teamed and could manage only three foul shots after the first period.
"Depth was kind of a problem for Century and we really wanted to wear them down," File said.
"In the second half we sort of got our second wind. Once we hit a few shots, things really started turning in our favor."
Heather Cavins (18 points, 11 rebounds) scored half of her game-high total in the third quarter as Du Quoin pulled away.
An 11-0 run to start the half turned the tie score into a 36-25 Lady Indians lead.
Century could get no closer and managed only five second half field goals.
Hirsch had three baskets during the third quarter run and Maddox closed out Century's hopes with an eight point flurry in the last quarter.
"With Nashville on the road coming up this was a game we really needed," File said. "And the girls responded."
Maddox joined Cavins with a double-double of her own (12 points, 10 rebounds).
Hirsch added eight points. Emling, Rice, Edwards and Ward combined for 13 points off the bench.
In Monday's junior varsity game, Du Quoin (3-3, 1-2) held Century to just three field goals and romped to a 43-9 victory.
Rice topped the Lady Indians with 11 points and Jessie Martin added 10.
Edwards (eight points, four steals) and Taylor King (seven points, seven rebounds) also enjoyed solid outings.
"We came out after the long bus ride and played pretty well," Du Quoin jayvee coach Jason James said. "We still have a lot to work on but its getting better."
With an enrollment of just 140 students as listed by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), Century High School is located about five miles east of Ullin. The district draws students from Ullin, Karnak, Grand Chain, Perks and Wetaug. It was formed in 1968.
Du Quoin 62, Century 38
DHS 13 12 19 18-62
Century 15 10 4 9- 38
Du Quoin (62):
Emling 2 1-2 5, Jones 1 0-0 3, Gates 3 0-0 6, Maddox 6 0-5 12, Hirsch 4 0-0 8, Ward 0 0-0 0, Rice 1 0-0 2, Cavins 6 6-9 18, Edwards 3 0-0 6, Smith 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 27 7-16 62.
Century (38):
Thurston 8, Harris 6, Hubbard 2, Eddington 11, Butler 11, Anderson 0, Merryman 0. TOTALS 13 10-19 38.
Three-pointers: Du Quoin 1 (Jones), Century 2 (Eddington 2). Team fouls-Du Quoin 19, Century 11.