BASKETBALL: Indians snap losing skid in Anna
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Du Quoin snapped a three-game losing streak and started off the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division schedule with a big road win on Friday night, knocking off Anna-Jonesboro 48-42 after trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half.
"We talked about poise before the game, and our boys had poise down the stretch," said Indians' head coach Gabe Sveda. "We've got to work on our free throws a little bit, but I'm extremely proud of them."
After an 8-8 opening quarter of play, the Wildcats appeared to be on their way to victory when Brady Wright's three-pointer put A-J up 20-13 midway through the second. Anna extended their advantage to 25-17 at the half as Du Quoin struggled to shoot 7-of-24 from the field in the opening sixteen minutes.
The Indians switched to a triangle-and-two defense for parts of the third quarter, something Sveda said he thought was worth trying after scouting the Wildcats.
"I'm not much of a zone guy," said Sveda, "but we've got the length for it and the personnell for it, so why not?"
The switch worked. Following a three-pointer from Caleb Mixon that put A-J up 11 just moments into the second half, Du Quoin began to make their move.
Three Wildcat turnovers and baskets from John Galik, John Boss, Brandon Williams and Brenden Fred accounted for eight straight Du Quoin points before Wright's layup temporarily stopped the bleeding for A-J.
The run would continue though, as Galik, Nate Boss, then Williams scored to close out the period while another three Anna turnovers helped contribute to the 14-2 spurt for Du Quoin.
Back to man-to-man defense in the fourth quarter, the Indians still didn't cool off. Fred hit a three-pointer with 4:14 to go and N. Boss and Galik had layups that capped off another 8-0 DHS run.
"It's about confidence," said Sveda. "These kids are slowing getting comfortable playing at the varsity level. We've got a lot of work to do, we'll enjoy this one and then move on and get better."
Wright and Travis Smith canned threes for the Wildcats, but too many turnovers and fouls began to catch up with the home team. The Indians made seven trips to the free throw line in the fourth quarter, making just six of twelve attempts, but had enough to hold on in the end.
Williams' 12 points led DHS in scoring, Galid and Fred each added 8. N. Boss finished with 7 points, J. Boss 5, Dillon Beltz and Cayle Diggins 3. Wright led A-J with 14 points, Smith and Mixen each had 9.
Du Quoin (2-3, 1-0) hosts Sparta this Friday for another conference battle before a tremendous road test on Saturday night at Harrisburg.
The Indians also learned over the weekend that they will be heading to the Benton Regional this postseason along with the host Rangers, Eldorado, Johnston City, Hamilton County and West Frankfort.