Boys Prep Basketball: Gossett joins elite list in OT loss at Metro-East

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In frustrating- and often times head-scratching fashion- Du Quoin High School's boys basketball losing streak was extended to three games Tuesday night.

The Indians, despite committing just nine turnovers and receiving arguably one of the best individual hoop performances by a DHS player in the last decade, dropped a 69-63 overtime decision against Edwardsville (Metro-East Lutheran) inside a quaint and noisy Thomas Hooks Gymnasium.

Du Quoin, 10-4, lost for the third time in seven outings since opening the season with seven consecutive victories.

Metro-East is 13-3 and placed four scorers in double digits to help offset Matt Gossett's 40-point, 10 rebound effort.

Gossett, who hit his first eight shots of the contest, finished 14-of-19 from the floo rand was just one of four Indian players to score.

Three of his baskets were from three-point range.

He also had three assists and blocked four shots while playing superb defense against MEL all-stater Bob Schneitz.

The 40-point effort ranks shares fifth place among all-time single game history in the annals of Du Quoin basketball.

Monte Kuhnert had a pair of 40-point games (1984, 1986).

Only Allen Crews (51, 1967), Roger Schneider (49, 1974), Nick Hill (43, 2002) and Don Stanhouse (41, 1969) scored more.

"These last three games have been pretty hard to take," Du Quoin coach Mike Crews admitted.

"This one especially hurts. We had plenty of chances to win and just let that opportunity slip right out of our hands. That's three in a row and we are pretty unhappy about things right now. Matt Gossett had just a tremendous game. Without his effort, I can't even imagine where we would have been tonight.

In a nip-and-tuck affair, neither squad could gain seperation until the Knights forged ahead 36-31 halfway through the third period. Du Quoin led 10-9 after one before MEL forged to front, 26-25, by halftime.

Gossett then regained the hot hand and pumped in 10 of the next 12 Du Quoin points- and assisting on another hoop by Logan Schneider- as Du Quoin used a 21-8 run to go ahead 52-46 with under four minutes to play.

Schneitz countered with the next three baskets- two in transition- to knot the score 52-52 with 1:42 left.

After two foul shots by Gossett put Du Quoin back on top 36 seconds later, Metro-East tied things on a pair of charity tosses by senior reserve Ben Moehle. Gossett fouled MEL's Matt Hackmann on a drive to the hoop, forcing Hackmann to the bench with an elbow stinger. Moehle- one of seven seniors on the Knights roster- calmly sank both free throws to produce yet another tie.

Du Quoin had the chance to end things in regulation, but Gossett misfired on two free throws with 2.2 seconds to go, sending the game into an extra session.

"Against a quality ballclub like Metro-East you've got to take better care of the basketball and make better decisions," said Crews. "They really hurt us in the halfcourt and with the dribble penetration.

Dan Meimeier started the overtime with a wide-open three and the Knights wouldn't trail again. Gossett briefly gave Du Quoin added life with a basket inside, but Spencer Morris turned a deflected pass into an easy lay-in and Josh

Hackmann was a thorn in Du Quoin's side all game long. The 6'1 guard doubled his season average with 22 points.

Schneitz- a 23 point per game scorer and already MEL's career points king- was held to 15 but Neimeier and Morris each had 12 points.

Marcus Clarry (nine points, seven rebounds), Jamor Reed (nine points, four steals) and Logan Schneider (six points) completed the Indian scoring.

In Tuesday's preliminary, Du Quoin (4-2) outscored MEL 15-4 in the final quarter en route to a 56-44 win.

Balance was the watch word for the young Indians, who led just 41-40 entering the fourth frame.

Sam Gossett had 17 points with James Williams' 16 right behind.

Seth Baxter (12) was the third Du Quoin scorer to reach double digits.John Galik added seven points with Nate and Jon Boss each contributing two.

Du Quoin hosts Nashville Friday. The game marks the beginning of a long and rugged road stretch for the Indians, who won't play again at home until Feb. 12.

Metro-East 69,

Du Quoin 63 (OT)

Du Quoin 10 15 18 11 9- 63

Metro 9 17 16 12 15-69

Du Quoin (10-4)

Davis 0 0-0 0, Carson 0 0-0 0, D.Rose 0 0-0 0, C. Rose 0 0-0 0,

Clarry 3 0-0 8, Reed 4 0-0 9, Schneider 3 0-0 6, M. Gossett 17 3-6 40, S.Gossett 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 27-54 3-6 63.

Metro East (13-3)

Schneitz 6 3-4 15, Morris 6 0-0 12, Neimeier 6 0-0 12, Hackmann 8 6-10 22, Budenbach

0 0-0 0, Hoff 0 0-0 0, Fanseir 0 0-0 0, Verdun 2 0-0 4, Moehle 1 2-2 4. TOTALS 27-59 12-16 69.

THREE-POINTERS-Du Quoin 6-12 (M. Gossett 3, Clarry 2, Reed). Metro East 3-11 (Neimeier). REBOUNDS-Du Quoin 25 (Gossett 10), Metro-East 27 (Schneitz 11). TURNOVERS-Du Quoin 9, Metro-East 11.