BASKETBALL: Junior High Roundup (01-07)
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DuQuoin Middle School Boys Basketball Team, playing at Pinckneyville, lost to the Junior Panthers 30-23 on Thursday evening. Pinckneyville led throughout the game and fought off a late fourth-quarter charge by DMS to hold on for the win.
DuQuoin's record overall is now 7-6 and 4-4 in the conference.
Coach Ryan Heape commented that "we continue to struggle offensively. We were 3 of 18 at the three point line (16%) and 6 of 22 on field goals (27%). You can't shoot 22% and win. We did a better job of taking care of the ball. We only had 9 turnovers. Pinckneyville was 13 of 20 at the free throw line, while we were 2 of 4. We will keep working, and we won't quit. We need to bounce back next week."
Scoring for DuQuoin were: A.J. Smith 8 points (4 rebounds), Jacob Wright 6, Nolan Showalter 5, Noah Campbell 3 points (5 rebounds), and Jacob Hunziker 1.
For Pinckneyville, Austin Ferguson was the leading scorer with 15 points and Trent Hicks had 11 points. Jacob Downard and Zach Hagene each finished with 2.
In the seventh grade game, Pinckneyville won in overtime. The score was tied at 22 in regulation play. Pinckneyville scored two points in overtime to win the game. Cole Hopkins scored 12 points for the Warriors. Ryne O'Rourke had 4 points, Braden Heape 4, and Hunter Behm 2. Their record is 3-9 overall. Coach Jacob Emling thought his team "showed improvement tonight. We played good defense and executed on offense."
The Warriors face a tough schedule next week. Monday they travel to Sparta and on Wednesday to Chester. Thursday there is a home game with Murphysboro.
The Junior Panthers (9-8)host Chester on Monday.
<u>DMS girls win a thriller against PJHS</u>
The game was slow and "a little sleepy" until the last two minutes. Then it got exciting. Point guard Carissa Graham was fouled with .1 left to go in the game with the score tied at 16 all. She stepped to the line and made the first one. After a Pinckneyville time out, she calmly made the second one to put DuQuoin ahead 18-16. That was the final score!
No wonder Coach Debbie Ritter's first comment was: "I love Carissa Graham!" She also commented that both teams played a very good game. "It got very physical at times. Andrea Morgan went in for a short time and made a shot that put us ahead by one point in the fourth quarter. Amanda Atteberry did a good job in the second half on defense. Everybody played great!"
The first quarter of the game was extremely slow and ended with a 3-2 score in DuQuoin's favor. Pinckneyville led 7-6 at the half. DuQuoin came back in the third quarter to go up 14-9. And the final again was 18-16 on Graham's two free throws. DuQuoin's record is 10-9 overall and 6-5 in the Conference.
The leading scorer for DMS was Jacqueline Harsy with 6. Carissa Graham had 4, Marisa Ferguson 4, Jessica Harsy 2, and Andrea Morgan 2. Others seeing action were: Amanda Atteberry, Amber Williams, Shelby Simmons, and Brittany Clark.
Pinckneyville Coach, Brittany McConachie, commented that "this was our first game back after the winter break. We were definitely sluggish. Unfortunately, we got beat at the free throw line; we were 2 for 12. Hopefully, we have learned from this and will get better for the regional that is coming up. Maybe we can get a win there."
Pinckneyville was led by Keelyn Stein with 5 points. Raygan Yates had 4, Kaitlyn Goldman 3, Maddie Jones 2, and Brooklyn Morrow 2. Kaylea Gleason, Taylor Griffin, and Kati Mathis was saw action during the game.
The DMS seventh graders, coach by Chuck Montgomery, also won. The final score was 23-19. Pinckneyville led throughout the first half, but DuQuoin was able to comeback in the third quarter and eventually win the game. Andrea Morgan led all scorers with 13. Alaina Caldwell had 8 points and Timbra Mansfield 2. Brittany Clark, Sydney Lewis, and Jaylyn Williams also saw playing time during the game.
For Pinckneyville Daisy Dudek scored 12 points. Mariah Clark had 3 points, Brooklyn Morrow 2, and Caitlyn Anderson 2. Morgan Gleason also played in the game.
The DuQuoin Middle School Girls play their final game of the season at home on Monday, January 10, against Sparta. This is Eighth Grade Night as well as a conference game.
DMS starts Regional play on Thursday, January 13 against Murphysboro Middle School (6:00) in the Trico Regional. DuQuoin is the #2 seed and Murphysboro #3. The #1 seed, Trico, plays at 7:45 against the #4 seed, Chester. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, January 15 at 2:00. The Thursday, January 13 games will be held at Trico Elementary Gym. The championship game will be held at the Trico High School Gym.
PJHS (11-8) hosts Trico on Tuesday. Their regional begins Thursday, January 13 at their home gym against Marissa (2-16).
<u>Luke stays hot in TSB win</u>
Tamaroa-St. Bruno won for the second night in a row in boys' junior high basketball, topping Unity Christian 47-31 behind another 20-plus point effort from Nolan Luke.
"We finally played well in the second half and pulled away in the third quarter," said Indians' head coach Cory Plumlee. "Luke and (Brock) Bullar kept their best player (Haynes) in check for most of the game."
TSB outscored Unity 16-4 in the third quarter after leading by only two at the half.
Luke's 10 rebounds were also a team best, Robbie Borchelt added 8 points, Bullar, Cole Bigham and Jordan Grissom each finished with 4 points.
Unity Christian won the J-V game 52-26 with Bullar leading TSB with 13 points.
TSB faces the same Unity Christian team this Saturday at the Quad County Conference Shootout held at Herrin High School. Tip-off for the game is set for 11:30 a.m. in Memorial Gym.
Doug Daniels of the Du Quoin Evening Call also contributed to this story.