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BASKETBALL: Warriors are state-bound after topping Trico

Posted February 08, 2011 10:00 pm

Patricia Ferrari

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DuQuoin Middle School Boys Basketball Team got off to a very slow start in the Region 3 Championship Game against Trico. It took the first quarter of the game to get warmed up, but when they started the second quarter, DMS played with focus and fire. DMS ended up winning the game 41-27.

DuQuoin started out somewhat slow and was only ahead 6-5 at the end of the first quarter. They scored 18 points in the second quarter to Trico's six. DMS led at half-time 24-11. Trico mounted a comeback in the third quarter and cut the lead to seven at 32-25. Two Jarred Thomas' steals led to lay ups by Thomas and Wright in the fourth quarter to seal the lead for DuQuoin. DuQuoin was able to run some time off the clock so the final score ended at 41-27 in DuQuoin's favor.

Principal Aaron Hill made the trophy presentation to DuQuoin Middle School immediately after the contest. DuQuoin advances to the State Tournament to be held at Rend Lake on Saturday, February 12. DuQuoin will play the 10:45 a.m. game against Region 2 winner, Harrisburg.

Scoring for DuQuoin had A.J. Smith with 12 points, Jarred Thomas 9, Noah Campbell 6, Jacob Wright 6, Jacob Hunziker 4, and Jerry Kuhnert 4. Nolan Showalter, Lane Valier, Jacob Valier, Jon Harsy, Logan Patalas, Tucker Kuhnert, Cole Hopkins, and Jordan Carson also saw action for the Warriors. The Warriors were seeded number one in the tournament, and lived up to that billing. DMS is coached by Ryan Heape and assisted by Jacob Emling. Their record is 12-10 overall.

The leading scorer for Trico was Ryan Myers with 10 points. Chase Rednour had 5, Jacob Chapman 4, Trenton Koch 3, Anthony Loucks 3, and Trevor Daniels 2 points. The Pioneers were coached by Jeremy Pierce and finished the season at 7-14.

Coach Ryan Heape was very excited about his team's win. "Our kids played one of their best games of the year tonight. I was proud of them because they reached their goal (to win the regional). We have had a great year! I thought they played hard the entire game. It was a great team effort! Our turnovers were very few tonight. Trico played a man to man the entire game. Our kids battled through that. My hat is off to Trico. They have improved so much this season."

With reference to the State Tournament Coach Heape further added: "We have the second best draw in the Regional in Harrisburg. We have had some common opponents. We feel good about our opportunity on Saturday. We are going there (Rend Lake) to win." DuQuoin will play Harrisburg at Rend Lake College on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. The new goal is to make it into the trophy round--the top four teams receive a trophy. DuQuoin would need to win over Harrisburg to meet that goal.

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