BASKETBALL: Du Quoin girls break school win record with 20th victory
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A new record was set on Monday evening at Sesser-Valier by the DuQuoin High School girls basketball team. No other girls basketball team in school history has had 20 wins in a season. The Indians set the new record by defeating the S-V Red Devils 52-51. DuQuoin's record is now 20-5 on the season.
DuQuoin was behind at the end of the first quarter 14-11, but picked up the pace in the second quarter, and was ahead at the half 26-21. DuQuoin continued to lead throughout the third quarter, and was leading 40-32. S-V made it close in the fourth quarter, and the final score ended at 52-51.
Coach Shawn File commented that the atmosphere was incredible, and very intense. Both teams had great fan support at the game. Coach File thought it was a "heck of a ball game."
DuQuoin's Rebekah Maddox lead the Indians in scoring with 22 points. Jessica Hirsch had 10, Alexis Kohrs 6, Taylor King 5, Cassidy Rice 4, Shelby Presley 3, and Bailie Caldwell 2.
Coach File further elaborated, "I am really proud of the team tonight. We were playing in a hostile environment. We were down at the end of the first quarter, but we kept feeding the ball to Maddox, and she kept scoring. Everyone had huge minutes for us. Our bench was fantastic. They were up, and clapping and supporting each other. Everybody was involved in the game. It was so much fun to coach tonight. We squeaked it out!"
The Junior Varsity did lose their game, but no score or points were available.
DuQuoin plays at home on Tuesday with Sparta. This is a conference game. The Indians are at home again on Thursday evening with Carterville, which is another conference game. The Indians are 5-1 in Conference play. The only loss is to Nashville. These games become very important if DuQuoin is to have any chance to finish first or second in the conference race.