BASKETBALL: DMS girls win, boys let lead slip away

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DuQuoin Middle School Girls Basketball Team pulled a big upset over Murphysboro on Monday evening. DMS managed to win a real close one over Murphysboro 20-18. DuQuoin trailed at the end of all three quarters, but made a comeback in the fourth quarter outscoring Murphysboro 8-2. DuQuoin had been beaten by Murphysboro in an earlier meeting of the two teams.

At the end of the first quarter Murphysboro led 4-2 over DuQuoin. At half-time the score was 8-6 with Murphysboro leading. The third quarter had Murphysboro leading 16-12. Then the Warriors came to life in the fourth quarter and won the game 20-18.

The score was tied at 16-16 with five minutes to play. DuQuoin went ahead 18-16. Amanda Atteberry scored a basket and made the score 20-18 at the 50 second mark. Jacqueline Harsy was fouled. She missed both free throws. Murphysboro got the rebound, but threw the ball away with 22 seconds left in the game. DuQuoin lost the ball with ten seconds left on the clock. Murphysboro in bounded the ball and missed a shot. Murphysboro fouled Carissa Graham, but she missed the free throw. DuQuoin rebounded the ball as time ran out. The win brings the DMS record to 7-8 overall and 3-4 in the conference.

The leading scorer for DMS was Graham with 6. She was followed by Atteberry with 5, Jessica Harsy 4, Jacqueline Harsy 4, and Amber Williams with 1. Marisa Ferguson also saw action for the Warriors.

Coach Debbie Ritter was very happy with the victory. "The key was we shut down their star shooter. She got frustrated, and eventually fouled out. The Warriors hung in there, and did what it took to win."

The seventh grade was not quite as fortunate as the eighth grade. DuQuoin lost a very close one 15-14 to Murphysboro. DuQuoin led at the half 8-6, but Murphy pulled ahead in the third quarter. The seventh grade record is 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the conference.

Andrea Morgan was the leading scorer with 8 points. Timbra Mansfield scored 4 and Sydney Lewis 2. Alaina Caldwell, Brittany Clark, Emily Born, and Kat Robison also saw action for the seventh graders. Chuck Montgomery is the seventh grade coach.

DuQuoin Middle School travels to Nashville on Thursday, December 9.

<u>DMS BOYS LOSE A HEARTBREAKER TO MURPHY </u>

The DuQuoin Middle School boys had Murphysboro Middle School beaten for the first three quarters of the game, but just could not stop the Murphy surge in the fourth quarter. DuQuoin ended up losing the game 54-45.

The Warriors led at the end of the first quarter 10-9, and extended their lead in the second quarter to 30-18. Murphysboro started coming back in the third quarter to close the gap to 39-38. Murphysboro managed to score the last 13 points of the game to defeat DuQuoin 54-45.

There were two key injuries for DuQuoin in the game. Leading scorers for DMS, Jarred Thomas and A.J. Smith, both suffered injuries and came out. DuQuoin seemed to struggle after that. The Warriors had 13 turnovers in the second half, and missed too many easy shots going 13-for-39.

Coach Ryan Heape thought his team did a better job rebounding. "We did a nice job on the glass. This was a disappointing loss. In order to win the conference, we have to beat Nashville at home Thursday. We are getting better as a ballclub, but we still need to manage to put four complete quarters together, and learn how to put a team away." Coach Heape added that Noah Campbell, who was injured early in the season, may be able to play next week.

The leading scorer for DMS was A.J. Smith with 15. Jarred Thomas followed with 10, Nolan Showalter 6, Jacob Wright 5, Jacob Valier 4, Jon Harsy 2, Jacob Hunziker 2, and Jerry Kuhnert 1.

The eighth grade team is 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Conference.

The seventh grade team also lost, but no book was kept for the game. The seventh graders are coached by Jacob Emling.

DMS Boys play at home on Thursday against Nashville. This is a pivotal conference game for the Warriors, and their hopes of winning the conference. Game time is 6:00 p.m. for the junior varsity.