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BASKETBALL: Late Herrin run dismisses DHS girls

Posted February 09, 2012 10:00 pm

Patricia Ferrari

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A sweetheart of a season came to an end on Wednesday evening for the DuQuoin High School girls basketball team while playing in the Regional Tournament at Herrin against the host team. DuQuoin lost the game to Herrin 55-42, but the game was much closer than the score indicates.

DuQuoin had a record breaking season establishing a new record for wins at 23-8. It is ironic that Herrin gave DuQuoin their first loss of the season in the Holiday Tournament, and now their last loss of the season in the Regional.

DuQuoin started off rather slowly in the first quarter, and was behind at the end 15-10. DuQuoin picked up the pace and closed to within two points at the half at 24-22. Herrin pulled away to a nine point lead in the third quarter 35-26, but DuQuoin fought back to tie the score at 36 in the fourth quarter before Rebekah Maddox received her fifth foul and had to leave the game.

DHS fell behind without Maddox as an option in the post and had to foul the latter part of the fourth quarter, where Herrin made free throws down the stretch to take the win at 55-42. DuQuoin had numerous players foul out of the game in the second half including Maddox, Alexis Kohrs, Abby Myers, Shelby Presley, and Cassidy Rice, while Herrin had only one player leave for five fouls.

Senior Jessica Hirsch led DuQuoin scorers with 12 points. Maddox had 11 points and 7 blocked shots and spent some time on the bench in foul trouble. Kohrs had 6 points and also had to sit out because of foul problems. Rice had 6 points and senior Shelby Presley also had 6. Bailie Caldwell had 2 points.

Also seeing action were Abby Myers, Taylor King, and Jacqueline Harsy. Other team members are Morgan Dennis, Carissa Graham, and Kelsey Robinson, who has been on the injured list for the past few weeks.

Herrin was led in scoring by Abby Horn with 21 points. Tori Johnson had 16 points, Whitney Woodis 14, Olivia Caldwell 2, Tina Black 1, and Jesika Alongi 1.

Coach Shawn File was obviously disappointed, but appreciative of a great season for the Indians. "It was a tough ending to an absolutely wonderful season. We played this game with heart and effort. We did not have much of an answer for Herrin's Abby Horn inside. A school record of 23 wins, second place in the Conference, won our Tip-Off Tournament, tied for second place at the Herrin Holiday tournament, won third place at the Carbondale, Tournament--it was a great season! Jessica Hirsch scored her one thousandth point, and became the all time leading scorer at DHS. We left everything we had on the floor tonight. I am proud of every single one of our kids." Jason James is the assistant coach.

Prior to the game there was a Three-Point Showdown held. The four players from Monday night who won competed against Herrin's four players. DuQuoin's Jessica Hirsch shot 8-15 as did Brandy Mifflin of Z-R-C.

DuQuoin's Cassidy Rice had 7-15, and the final winner to advance was Herrin's Olivia Caldwell with 5-15. These four players will compete in the finals on Friday at 6:53 prior to the Championship game at 7:30.

Herrin moves to the Championship game against Sesser-Valier-Waltonville on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.

The Indians' season may be over, but this team has definitely left an indelible mark on DHS basketball history. A mark that will be difficult to surpass. The Indians have much of which to be proud--both on the court and in the classroom. The support they received from both their adult and student fans this season was well deserved. DuQuoin has good reason to be proud of these young women and the coaching staff for representing our community and high school with such dignity and grace.

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