BASKETBALL: Junior High Roundup (01-11)
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[<u>DMS girls victorious at home</u>
The DuQuoin Middle School Girls Basketball Team had a successful Eighth Grade Night on Monday evening defeating Sparta 21-14. Prior to the conference game, DuQuoin honored the eighth graders playing in their last home game. Coach Debbie Ritter introduced the players along with their parents.
Honored were: Amber Williams, daughter of Juli & TJ Williams, Carissa Graham, daughter of Gena & David Graham, Amanda Atteberry, daughter of Amy & Kevin Atteberry, Marisa Ferguson, daughter of Shirley & Tom Ferguson, Jessica and Jacqueline Harsy, daughters of Launa & Roger Harsy, Shelby Simmons, daughter of Stephanie Sizemore, and Tiamera Hamilton, daughter of Jamaal Hamilton & Brittany Hamilton.
The first quarter of the game had DuQuoin ahead 6-2 over Sparta. In the second quarter, DuQuoin held Sparta to no points; the score was 11-2 in favor of DuQuoin at the half. DuQuoin led 15-7 at the end of the third quarter and finished the game winning 21-14.
The leading scorer for DuQuoin was Jacqueline Harsy with 9 points. Marisa Ferguson had 6 points, Amanda Atteberry 4, and Jessica Harsy 2. Carissa Graham, Amber Williams, Shelby Simmons, and Tiamera Hamilton also had playing time for the Warriors. DuQuoin's record is now 11-9 overall and 7-5 in the conference. DMS starts regional play on Wednesday at Trico (6:00) against Murphysboro.
Coach Debbie Ritter commented that "this group has been a joy to coach this year. They are a very hard- working group of girls, and they proved that again tonight. Every eighth grader played a role in this win tonight. We are hoping for another win on Wednesday in the Regional."
The seventh grade game was a "wild and crazy" one going into double overtime. The score at the end of the first quarter was 6-5 DuQuoin, and DuQuoin led at the half 11-9. At the end of the third quarter DuQuoin was ahead 19-11, but Sparta started a comeback in the fourth quarter to tie the game at the end of regulation play at 21 apiece. In the first overtime, Andrea Morgan's shot at the buzzer tied up the score at 25. Morgan also scored a three pointer in the double overtime to cinch the game for DuQuoin.
Scoring for DuQuoin had Andrea Morgan with 14 points. Timbra Mansfield and Alaina Caldwell each had six points, and Brittany Clark had 2. Sydney Lewis and Kate Smith also had playing time in the game. The seventh graders finish their season with a 7-9 record overall and 6-6 in the Conference. The seventh grade is coached by Chuck Montgomery.
DuQuoin Middle School is in the Trico Regional and will play Murphysboro Middle School on Wednesday, January 12, at 6:00. The winner of that game advances to the championship game on Saturday, January 15 at Trico (2:00). Trico and Chester are the other two teams in the regional.
<u>DMS boys fall at Sparta</u>
The DuQuoin Middle School Boys Basketball Team traveled to Sparta on Monday evening, but were unable to come home with a win. The eighth graders lost 45-24. DuQuoin fell behind at the end of the first quarter 8-2 and again at the half 20-12. The third quarter had Sparta ahead 29-16, and the final score was 45-24.
DuQuoin's record drops to 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
Jerry Kuhnert was the leading scorer with 10 points. Nolan Showalter and Jared Thomas each had 4 points, A.J. Smith scored 3, Lane Valier 2, and Jacob Wright 1. Sparta had a very balanced scoring attack with seven players scoring in the game.
Coach Ryan Heape was obviously disappointed with the loss, but had these comments to make: "Our effort was better, but our execution is still lacking at times. We continue to struggle at the foul line. Sparta shot 25 free throws to our 11. They scored 14 points to our 6. We are taking better care of the basketball, but not rebounding as well as I would like. I am proud of the kids, and how hard they work. We have to continue to compete, and our ultimate goal is to win our regional."
DMS plays on the road again on Wednesday, January 12, against Chester. The Warriors will be at home on Thursday, January 13, with Murphysboro. Coach Heape added that these were very important games because these two teams are in DuQuoin's regional.
The seventh grade team lost their game 36-30. Tucker Kuhnert was the leading scorer with 12 points. Cole Hopkins and Hunter Behm had 5 points each, Caleb Vogel 4, Luke Metten 2, and Ryne O'Rourke 2.
Their record is 3-10. Jacob Emling coaches the seventh graders.
<u>TSB boys win fourth straight</u>
Tamaroa-St. Bruno outscored Waltonville in the second half 29-8 and won for the fourth straight game 52-31 on the road Monday night.
The Indians, who haven't lost since the holiday break, were led by Nolan Luke's 18 points and 5 steals and Robbie Borchelt's 8 rebounds. Jordan Grissom added 9 points, Brock Bullar 7, Tyler Iubelt and Adam Banach 6, Borchelt 4 and Cole Bigham 2. Luke's 5 steals were also a team-high.
"We had good all-around scoring," said Indians' head coach Cory Plumlee. "We're playing our best basketball of the season right now."
TSB will need their best effort on Tuesday night when they host Pinckneyville District #204 at the Tamaroa Community Center.
Doug Daniels of the Du Quoin Evening Call also contributed to this story.