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Indians hold on late to top Hamilton County, 74-66

Posted January 10, 2017 10:00 pm

By Adam iwans

On a night in which the Du Quoin Indians honored Caleb Vogel for reaching his 1,000th career point, they would need every one of his game-high 32 points to hold and knock off non-conference foe Hamilton County, 74-66.

It proved to be back a back and forth battle throughout, as the Indians opened up with a quick 6-0 run, as Caleb Vogel converted on a pair of layups.

Ashton Smith followed up shortly after as the Indians lead 8-3 halfway through the first quarter.

But, Hamilton County would battle back, a consistent theme throughout the night.

The Foxes hung tough to close out the first, as they cut the Indian lead to just two, 17-15, at the end of the first.

Hamilton County carried over its late first quarter momentum to open the second, knocking down a layup to tie the game at 17 apiece on its first possession of the quarter.

Du Quoin responded, with a pair of baskets inside the paint from Braden Heape and a pair of shots at the charity stripe from Vogel to help them regain the lead, 23-17.

Vogel knocked down a layup in transition shortly after to give him 13 first-half points as the Indians extended its lead, 29-21.

But, the Foxes closed out the half on a roll, stringing together a 9-2 run, knocking down a mid-range jumper with seconds remaining to cut the Indian lead to 31-30 as they headed into half-time.

The Foxes started right where they left off to open the third quarter, knocking down a three from the top of the key on the first possession of the half, taking its first lead of the game, 33-31.

Both teams traded back and forth, as the Indians tied the game up five different times in the third quarter, but the Foxes held Du Quoin off from taking a lead.

A steal from Josh Heape and subsequent assist to Smith in transition for an easy layup tied the game at 45 heading into the final quarter.

Vogel and Braden Heape served up some late-game heroics to open up the fourth quarter.

Vogel opened up with a quick three followed by a putback to give the Indians there first lead since the beginning of the third, 50-45.

Heape followed up with eight straight points of his own, knocking down a trio of baskets inside the post and a pair of free throws as the Indians began to pull away, leading 58-51.

Vogel added on to the growing lead with a pair of free throws followed by an emphatic slam dunk in transition, extending the Indian lead to nine late in the fourth.

Hamilton County made one last final push, grabbing a late offensive rebound and knocking down a three to cut the lead down to five.

But, Indian junior went 4-for-4 at the free throw line to help the Indians close things out and hang on for the win, 74-66, marking the Indians third straight.

Du Quoin will look to extend its winning streak at home Saturday, facing off against non-conference foe Trico at 6:15 p.m. before traveling to the Okawville Invitational starting Monday night.

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