Girls Prep Basketball: Lady Indians start fast, finish faster
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In what's expected to be an early preview of next month's opening game in the Class 2A Regional, Du Quoin High School's Girls Basketball team used a quick start to sail past visiting Benton Thursday night in Anders Memorial Gymnasium.
With Jessica Hirsch scoring 11 of her team, career and game best 31 points in the first quarter, the Lady Indians posted a 65-48 win.
Now 10-10 on the season, Du Quoin's slated to host Chester Tuesday and ended a busy week with a pair of non-league victories in three starts.
"The team played well together and didn't let some adversity get to them," Lady Tribe coach Shawn File said. "They went out and just played hard as a team. The intensity was much better tonight."
Hirsch's huge opening frame helped Du Quoin race to a 17-3 lead before Benton's Rangerettes pulled within 32-25 by halftime.
Benton briefly took the lead midway through the third quarter before the Lady Indians closed the frame with an 11-0 run.
"We made some adjustments during the timeout after Benton went ahead," said File. "We went to a 3-2 zone and were able to stop the dribble penetration of Benton's guards."
Hirsch finished with a dozen field goals and connected twice from three-point range.
Freshman Rebekah Maddox added a double-double wih 17 points and 10 rebounds. Hirsch's sophomore classmate, forward Keawna Anders, added 10 points.
In the junior varsity game, Du Quoin (6-7) won a low-scoring battle by a 27-19 count.
Ashley Ward (eight points, five steals) led the young Lady Indians with Cassidy Rice adding five point and two assists.
"We played well tongight and had good ball movement," Du Quoin coach Jason James said. "And our rotation on defense just gets better every time out."
Du Quoin 65, Benton 48
Benton 3 22 12 11-48
DHS 17 15 14 19-65
Du QUOIN (10-10, 1-5)
Hirsch 14 1-2 31, Gates 1 0-0 3, Emling 1 0-0 2, Anders 5 0-0 10, Rice 1 0-0 2, Maddox 7 3-5 17. TOTALS 26 (3) 4-7 65.