Du Quoin surges past Jersey at Duster Thomas Hoops Classic
PINCKNEYVILLE - Trailing by nine late in the third quarter, the Du Quoin Indians boys basketball team went on a 14-0 run to take control and beat Jersey High School, 68-65, Thursday morning in the first round of Pinckneyville's expanded Duster Thomas Hoops Classic.
The fifth-seeded Panthers (5-9) were ahead 53-44 with 39 seconds left in the third period, but the Indians (6-5) took control from there and held on at the end to move into a date with Benton in the winner's bracket Friday morning.
And when Braeden Pursell capped Du Quoin's big run with part of his game-high 27 points, the Indians had a 58-53 lead before giving up Jersey's first points of the fourth quarter at the four-minute mark.
The work wasn't done yet, even after Carson Davis fed Shamar Adams for a layup after a Pursell steal to put Du Quoin ahead 62-58, or after Josh Heape made two free throws to put the Indians up 64-60.
Jersey put Du Quoin's Anthony Cole at the line and he made both tosses to make it 66-62, then Jersey's David Rogers hit a 3-pointer to make it 66-65 with 19 seconds left. Again, Cole was sent to the line and again he calmly made both for a three-point lead.
Jersey turned the ball over on its next possession, and although Pursell missed two free throws with six seconds left, the Indians' win was secure when Tucker Shalley's heave at the buzzer fell short.
Du Quoin led 37-34 at halftime with Pursell scoring 14 points in the opening stanza, 10 of them coming in the second quarter.
Pursell was the only Indians player to finish in double figures as Heape ended with nine and both Adams and Cole had eight. Kadin Mays had seven, Davis chipped in six and Nick Cole contributed a big 3-pointer in the third quarter.
Heape and Adams both had a team-high five rebounds.
Kurt Hall led Jersey with 14 points, only four of which came after halftime. Matthew Jackson and Robers both had 11 and Alex Strebel had all eight of his points in the first half.
Du Quoin was 24 of 50 from the field and 15 of 21 from the foul line in the victory. Jersey was 24 of 57 from the floor and 13 of 24 from the stripe.
Du Quoin girls split at Lebanon
LEBANON - The Du Quoin High School girls basketball team lost its opener at the Lebanon Christmas Tournament to the host school, 59-48, on Wednesday night, then turned around and beat New Athens, 51-49 in overtime on Thursday morning.
Chloe Hill hit four 3-pointers and led Du Quoin with 12 points in both contests.
Bailey Harsy had 11 points in the loss to Lebanon and Katie Smith had 10 points in the win over New Athens. Delaynie Dearmond and Ayanna Dunklin both added nine points in Thursday's game.
The Lady Indians return to the tournament Friday to face Chester.