BASKETBALL: DMS shows rust in loss to Herrin
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Playing their first game in almost three weeks, the DuQuoin Middle School Boys got off to a very slow start in their basketball game against Herrin on Tuesday evening. Perhaps it was a result of too much time away from the game because of snow days and the winter break. The team missed quite a few shots either long or short and only scored three points in the first quarter. Herrin led throughout the game winning by 50-36.
At the half, DuQuoin had scored only eight points. Herrin led 19-8. The team had a decent third quarter and even pulled within six at one point. The score at the end of three quarters was Herrin 32-24. Herrin then pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 50-36. DuQuoin's record is now 7-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
The leading scorer for DMS was Jacob Wright with 12 points on four-three pointers. Jared Thomas had 11, Cole Hopkins 4, Lane Valier 2, Jacob Hunziker 2, Noah Campbell 2, A.J. Smith 1, Jerry Kuhnert 1, and Jacob Valier 1. Others seeing playing time were Nolan Showalter, Jon Harsy, Tucker Kuhnert, Jordan Carson, and Hunter Behm.
Coach Ryan Heape was obviously disappointed in his team's performance. Coach Heape said, "my Mother always told me if I don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."
The seventh graders also were defeated by Herrin. The final score was 28-23. The scoring leader for DuQuoin was Cole Hopkins with 9 on three-three pointers. Also scoring were Hunter Behm with 6, Tucker Kuhnert 6, and Caleb Vogel 2. Ryne O'Rourke, Chad Heatherly, Luke Metten, and Braden Heape also saw action for the Warriors. The seventh graders pulled within two points in the fourth quarter before getting defeated by five points. Their record is now 3-8 overall. Jacob Emling coaches the seventh grade team.
DMS travels to Pinckneyville on Thursday evening (January 6) for a conference game.