BASKETBALL: DMS 2-0 in Tip-Off
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DMS Warrior Tip-Off Basketball Tournament continued on Wednesday. DuQuoin easily won 60-26 over Benton in the third game of the evening. DuQuoin is 2-0 in the tournament and Benton is 0-2.
Coach Ryan Heape's starting lineup consisted of Jacob Valier, Nolan Showalter, Jacob Wright, A.J. Smith, and Jerry Kuhnert. Coach Heape was able to play every player on his bench because of the score differential. Twelve players were able to score in this game.
DuQuoin got the tip and Showalter immediately went to the basket to score. When DuQuoin got the ball back, Showalter scored again. Wright rebounded at the Benton end. A.J. Smith was able to hit a short jumper in the paint. Smith then stole the ball from Benton. Jerry Kuhnert hit a short shot for two. Benton finally scored on a short jumper.
Later in the period, Jacob Hunziker scored two. DuQuoin fouled, and Benton missed both free throws. DuQuoin rebounded and missed a shot at the other end. DuQuoin fouled, and Benton made two free throws to make the score 12-4 at the end of the first quarter.
Benton started the second quarter with the ball. DuQuoin was able to intercept a pass. Showalter scored two more. Benton scored on a jump shot. DuQuoin turned the ball over, but then intercepted a pass. DuQuoin's Jarrod Thomas was fouled, and made one of two free throws. Thomas rebounded at the Benton end, but DuQuoin came away with no points on that possession. DuQuoin blocked a Benton shot at 15-6. A.J. Smith was fouled, shot two, and made both. Thomas stole the ball, and was fouled on the way down the court. Showalter shot a jump shot and made it. DuQuoin stole the ball, and Jon Harsy made a nice shot from the corner. On the DuQuoin next possession, Harsy's shot was again good. Thomas followed with a long three pointer. Benton scored at the other end, and Jerry Kuhnert hit a pretty shot in the paint. Smith's short jumper was good. Lane Valier stole a pass, but DuQuoin lost the ball on the other end. The half-time score was 30-8 in DuQuoin's favor.
The Warriors continued to pull away in the second half, and the fourth quarter saw a new five for DuQuoin. Tucker Kuhnert scored the first two points. Logan Patalas laid one in for two. Trace Klein shot a basket for two. Hunter Behm scored four points in the quarter. Others seeing playing time were: Cole Hopkins, Jordan Harsy, Ryne O'Rourke, and Chad Heatherly.
Showalter, Smith, and Jerry Kuhnert each finished with 10 points to lead DMS. Hunziker 6 points, Wright, Jon Harsy, Behm, and Thomas each with 4 points, and Kuhnert, Valier, Patalas, and Klein 2 apiece rounded out the scoring.
Coach Ryan Heape was very happy with his team's performance. "We were much improved, and it was a much better effort. It was a real team effort. We did a good job defensively, and offensively it was a huge size advantage for us. We took advantage of that. It was a really good team effort. We like to be able to get everybody involved in the game. We want to get better every game." Coach Heape is assisted by Jacob Emling.
In the first game of the evening, the seventh grade teams from Trico and Salem squared off. Salem won 32-23.
The second game was between Salem and Trico's varsity teams. Salem won in a close game 44-39. Salem's record in the tournament is 2-0 and Trico is 0-2.
The tournament will continue on Friday with Benton and Trico playing at 6:00. In the 7:30 game, DuQuoin and Salem will play for the championship.