BASKETBALL: Woodlawn slips past Du Quoin in OT
Du Quoin was in control of Tuesday night's game with Woodlawn, leading by eight at the half, but the Lady Cardinals cut the lead to two by the end of the third quarter and went on to win the game in overtime, 43-41, on the first day of the Lady Indians Tip-Off Classic at DHS.
The Lady Indians had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Mackenzie Jackson's shot from the paint was just off the mark as time expired. Woodlawn's Ryann French scored 12 of her game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Du Quoin's post players got into some foul trouble.
"We turned the ball over too much," said DHS head coach Shawn File, "and it was unforced stuff for the most part. Woodlawn was persistent. We missed a couple layups throughout the night, we had a hard time getting looks."
Du Quoin led by as many as eleven points in the second quarter, going ahead 18-7 on a fast-break layup by Tarynn Mays with 1:49 to go in the half. They led by as many as twelve in the third quarter, 23-11, on a jumper by Mays with 6:28 on the clock.
But Woodlawn took control from there, going on an 11-1 run to close out the third period and trailed by just a bucket heading to the fourth.
"As the game went on, I thought we were the team that looked a little tired," File said. "I know that (Woodlawn) played a game last night, but I thought we were the team that looked tired. Maybe I need to get some more fresh legs out there."
Alaina Caldwell hit a three-pointer to start the final frame for DHS, and order seemed to be restored with 6:32 to play and the Lady Indians up 31-24, however the Cardinals again put together a rally.
French cut the lead to three with a basket in the paint with 1:37 to play, and Kerstie Harlow's runner cut it to two with just under thirty seconds to go. A Du Quoin turnover allowed Taytum Murdock to tie the score at 36-36 with 15 seconds left on a jumper.
In the overtime, DHS never led and could not take advantage of six misses at the free throw line by the Lady Cardinals. Du Quoin had an inbounds play with 7.6 seconds left, but again turned the ball over, allowing Woodlawn to escape.
"We're going to come back Thursday night and it's going to be a battle," said File. "This is a great tournament for us to kind of see where we're at. Elverado played a really strong game against Johnston City tonight. There's a not a gimmee in this tournament, and we're going to have to come to play."
Kate Smith had 13 points to lead the Lady Indians, Caldwell added 9, Mays 8, Jordyn Bullar 4, Jackson 3, Sadie Day 3 and Grace Haney 1.
DHS (0-1) will take on Elverado on Thursday night at the Tip-Off at 8:30 p.m. before meeting Murphysboro on Friday, also at 8:30 p.m.