The Road to Peoria- Du Quoin three-peats regional title

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For the 29th time-and third consecutive year- Du Quoin High School's boys basketball program wears the crown of regional champions.

Friday night, the host and #1 Indians again dialed up the defensive intensity and smothered its opposition.A 43-24 win over surprising Benton (10-20) advanced Du Quoin (24-6) into Wednesday's Class 2A sectional semifinals at Herrn. At 7:30, they'll face Perry County rival Pinckneyville (25-5).

The sectional battle will be the first against the Panthers since 1986.

"Again I just can't say how proud I am of these kids and how happy we are for Indian Nation, Du Quoin coach Mike Crews said. "

Winners in 12 of their last 13 games, the Indians held Benton's young squad scoreless until 38 seconds into the second quarter. An offensive rebound bucket by Mason Childers broke the ice, but the Rangers trailed 9-2 at that point.

Despite some early jitters, the Indians scored the game's first eight points during a sluggish first period.

Benton attempted just 10 first half field goals, hitting three of its last four tries.

Du Quoin-on the other hand- endured a four minute scoreless stretch prior to halftime and carried only a 14-7 lead into intermission despite forcing 13 Benton turnovers. Nine of those giveaways came in the first quarter. A powerful spin move and lay-up from Cody Rose was the lone Du Quoin field goal. The Indians managed a seven-point halftime lead even after missing nine straight shots at one point.

"We just shot the ball way too quick early on," said Crews. "We didn't run much offense and we're just a little too excited. Once we settled down, I thought things happened pretty well for us."

The Tribe- who allowed just a head-shaking 42 points in its two regional wins-began to gain seperation from the scrappy Rangers after halftime.

An 8-2 run stretched the lead to 22-9 early in the frame and set the tone for a productive quarter.

The Indians lead reached 29-13 after Matt Gossett's slicing move to the basket and a conventional three-point play by Jamor Reed.

Tyler Leffler's bomb from beyond the arc gave Benton a spark as the quarter ended. Leffler then built more momentum with another three 12 points into the quarter that pulled the Rangers to within 10 points (29-19).

Enduring another scoreless drought- this one lasting about 2 1/2 minutes- the Indians sprang back to life and finally sealed the championship.

Gossett began the flurry by dishing a no-look pass to 6'6 classmate Logan Carson on the baseline. Carson finished the play with a two-handed slam, jolting the near capacity crowd inside Anders Memorial Gym to life.

Gossett then scored on back-to-back drives to the hoop, putting the Indians ahead 37-21. Benton would score just three more points the rest of the way.

Davis, Reed and Gossett all converted from the foul line to keep the Rangers at bay in the final minutes.

"Once we started being a little more creative, balanced and spaced with our offense, everything kind of fell into place," said Crews. "I felt like with the defensive pressure we were able to put on that Benton was going to have trouble getting into any kind of offensive flow. From the moment we put the press on (midway through the first quarter) I felt Benton started to struggle."

Reed and Davis keyed the defense, combining for 10 steals. Gossett (15 points, seven rebounds) was again solid.

Reed added 11 points and Davis hit for nine.

"We've done a pretty good job with the press all year long,"Benton coach Ron Winemiller said. "But Du Quoin just kind of overwhelmed us with their pressure. And when they needed a basket and we struggling to score, Gossett went and got one."

Leffler was the lone Ranger in double figures, scoring 11 points.

Crews, in just his fifth year at Du Quoin became only the second Indian coach ever to win three straight regional titles. The late Ray Saunches, who came to Du Quoin for Crews' senior season (1963-64) led Du Quoin to four straight regional crowns during the early days of two-class basketball from 1972-1975.

Du Quoin 43, Benton 24

BENTON (10-20)

C. Smith 1 0-0 2, Childers 1 1-4 3, Garrett 0 0-0 0, Suver 0 2-2 2, Leffler 4 0-0 11,

LaBuwi 1 0-2 2, K.Smith 1 0-0 2, Miner 1 0-0 2, Johnston 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 6-19 (3-11) 3-10 24.

Du QUOIN (24-6)

Davis 3 2-2 9, Clarry 0 0-0 0, Reed 3 5-7 11 Schneider 0 1-2 1, M. Gossett 6 3-4 15, D. Rose

1 0-0 2, Carson 1 0-2 2, C. Rose 1 1-2 3 Baxter 0 0-0 0, Williams 0 0-0 0, S. Gossett 0 0-0 0,

Kuhnert 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 14-33 (1-6) 12-19 43.

Benton 0 7 9 8- 24

DHS 8 6 15 14-43

THREE-POINTERS: Benton 3 (Leffler 3), Du Quoin 1 (Davis). REBOUNDS: Du Quoin 26 (M. Gossett 7), Benton 23. TURNOVERS: Benton 23, Du Quoin 7. STEALS: Du Quoin 16 (Davis 6). ASSISTS: Du Quoin 9 (Reed 4). TEAM FOULS: Benton 14, Du Quoin 13.