BASKETBALL: Indians' losing streak reaches four games
DU QUOIN, IL - The Indians dropped their fourth game in a row this past Saturday night at Anders Gymnasium as the Du Quoin offense struggled to find points against Trico's zone defense with leading scorer Brenden Fred still sidelined with a bone bruise.
The Pioneers led the entire second half and used an 8-0 run during the third period to create some separation between themselves and the Indians on their way to a 49-40 victory.
"Their zone was effective, they kind of packed it in on us," said DHS head coach Gabe Sveda. "We thought they'd come out and play their intense defense that they usually do, and they did on the ball, but they kept four guys in the lane so it kind of made us stagnant on offense."
"We started chucking it from three, and we can't do that, we're shooting below 20% on the year from three point range. If we do put a three up, it's got to be out of the offense after we go inside-out, get some reversals so we can open up rebounding lanes for our bigs."
Klayton Bunselmeyer hit a three-pointer to cap off a 7-0 start to the game for Trico, but Du Quoin fought back with a solid second quarter to trail just 20-18 at the half.
Austin Mapps hit a cutting layup on a pass from Spencer Cook, then drilled a three to cut the Pioneers' advantage to 24-23 early in the third quarter, but then Trico scored eight straight points over a two-minute span.
Sophomore guard A.J. Smith, who led Du Quoin with 13 points, scored five of them near the end of the third period as the Indians cut it to four, but again the Pioneers responded with six straight points. Several Indian turnovers minimized what Du Quoin did offensively throughout the second half, and the home team only went to the free throw line for four attempts in the entire ball game.
"I didn't think we went up strong at all tonight," said Sveda. "Friday night we did a better job of going up strong, didn't get many free throw opportunities, but we did a better job with our post moves, going up strong and finishing. Tonight I thought we just kind of threw it up, didn't make a strong move to the basket, probably didn't get it inside enough either."
Daulton Beltz, who led DHS in scoring the past three games while Fred was out, finished with just four points on Saturday.
"That's a credit to their defense, they had a good game plan to keep us out of the lane," Sveda said. "In the second half I thought we did a better job of getting the ball inside and running our offense and getting some better looks."
After helping lead the J-V team to a 59-49 win, Smith emerged as an offensive threat for the Indians in the varsity contest with three triples.
"What a night for that young man, he probably earned himself a little more playing time at the varsity level," said Sveda. "He brings it every day, that's the kind of leader he is as a young man. He brings it every day, he competes, and he came in and made some shots for us."
Cook added 9 points for the Indians, Mapps had 5, Deeja Cole 4, Daulton Donoghue 3 and John Erwin 2. Blaine LePere led three Pioneers in double figures with 16 points.
The two teams could wind up facing off again this week when both travel to Sparta for the Bulldogs' annual Mid-Winter Classic along with Steeleville, Dupo, Waterloo, Murphysboro, Red Bud and the host team.
Sveda is hopeful that Fred could see some action during the week.
"He's looking pretty good, he's been doing a few things with us," said Sveda. "Tim Davis (trainer) has been looking at him, he's recovering well."
Du Quoin (6-9) will meet Red Bud at 5:30 p.m. on day one of the Mid-Winter Classic at Sparta this Tuesday evening.
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">-Nashville 57, Du Quoin 40</span>
On Friday night, the Indians fell behind by double digits in the second quarter before fighting back early in the fourth, but couldn't overcome a strong effort at the free throw line by the Hornets in a 57-40 SIRR Mississippi battle.
Freshman Royce Newman led three Hornets in double figures with 16 points. Beltz had a team-high 15 for Du Quoin, Mapps finished with 10.