BASKETBALL: Du Quoin earns a split at Girls' Tip-Off

The DuQuoin Indians and the Woodlawn Cardinals played the final game of the Tip Off Basketball Tournament on Tuesday evening. DuQuoin cruised to a victory 53-37. DuQuoin's record for the tournament and season is 4-1. Woodlawn ended the tournament at 1-4. DuQuoin ended the tournament in a three-way tie for first place with Murphysboro and Johnston City. Elverado, Steeleville, and Woodlawn all ended the tournament at 1-4.

DuQuoin started out on fire scoring 24 points in the first quarter of the game--a feat not often seen. The Indians led 24-1 at the end of the quarter, and 32-11 at the half. At the end of the third quarter, DuQuoin was up 20 points at 43-23. Coach File was able to play all of his players in the fourth quarter, and DuQuoin was victorious at 53-37.

DuQuoin's leading scorer was no surprise, Rebekah Maddox with 21 points and 5 blocked shots. Abby Myers, Bailie Caldwell, Taylor King, Alexis Kohrs, and Kelsey Robinson all chipped in six points each. Andrea Morgan had 2 points. Other Indians seeing action were Alaina Caldwell, Katrina Whitley, Ashanti Warren, Morgan Dennis, and Jordyn Bullar. During the second quarter, DuQuoin's Alex Kohrs was injured, and had to leave the game. Kohrs is to be evaluated by a physician on Wednesday, and no immediate information was available on her condition.

The leading scorer for Woodlawn was Alexa Capps with 18 points. Catherine Coleman had 6 points, Elesa Hefner 6, Cassandra Lueking 2, Shay Ilbery 2, and Kerstie Harlow 1. The Cardinals are coached by Trisha Draege. The assistant coaches are Kristina Draege and John Kiselewski.

Coach Shawn File was elated about the win: "Fantastic start to the ball game! Twenty four to one is incredible. We talked about defense in the pre-game. Capps is a fantastic player, and Abby Myers held her on defense. Everybody helped out as well. It was a complete defensive team oriented effort. Congrats to the three DuQuoin players that made the All-Tournament Team--Caldwell, Maddox, and Kohrs. They were all deserving candidates. We travel to Anna-Jonesboro on Tuesday night."

The Indians start Conference play next with a trip to Anna on Tuesday.