GIRLS BASKETBALL: Rangerettes roll past Lady Indians

The Benton Rangerettes defeated Du Quoin 66-38 in the semifinal game of the Illinois High School Association Class 2A Benton Basketball Regional.

Benton will play Sesser-Valier-Waltonville in the regional championship game Thursday at Rich Herrin Gymnasium. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

Benton led 8-7 with 3:21 to play in the first then closed the quarter with a 7-3 run and led 15-10 heading int the second quarter

Du Quoin had 28 turnovers in the game.

"Our defense really stepped up in the second half. The turnovers helped us create offense," Benton basketball coach Andy Sloan said. We live for another day and are taking it one quarter at a tim. Du Quoin's record is not indicative to how well they have played this year."

Katie Sandusky had back-to-back three-pointers, geeing Benton a 23-12 lead with five minutes to play in the half.

The Lady Indians Kate Smith dropped in a trey with 49-seconds to play, trimming Du Quoins deficit to 31-17.

Benton's Ally Gischer hit a lay-up with 25-seconds to play and Benton closed with half on a 10-3 run.

Benton began the third on a 6-0 run and led 49-17 with 6:30 to play in the third quarter. Du Quoin went on an 11-2 run, trimming Benton's lead to 41-28 with 2:42 left in the third quarter.

"It's nice being in the title game but our goal is to take one more step. We have been beaten in the regional championship the last two years," Sloan said. "This wasn't pretty but it's a 'W'."

The Rangerettes closed the frame on a 6-0 run and led 47-28 after three quarters.

"As big as Benton is, we had a hard time making the easy passes which created a lot of easy turnovers. We struggled on the boards. This is the first time in a couple of years we have had double-digit wins. We don't have a senior and get everyone back so the future looks bright for us," Du Quoin basketball coach Shawn File said.

The Lady Indians finished 10-22.

Jordyn Bullar had twelve points to lead Du Quoin, Alaina Caldwell added nine, Tarynn Mays six, Smith, Grace Haney and Kat Robison three apiece, Sadie Day two.