Girls Prep Basketball: Lady Indians rock Chester

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[14 of Jessica Hirsch's 23 points came in the opening quarter Tuesday night, helping Du Quoin High School's girls basketball team improve its record to 11-9.

The Lady Indians blitzed Chester for the third time in 2009-2010, 68-40, and are 2-5 in River-to-River Conference play.

Du Quoin was ahead 23-2 after a lightning-fast first quarter and stretched that margin to 44-12 by intermission.

Hirsch scored 21 of her points by halftime, including back-to-back three-pointers early in the second quarter, as the Lady Indians opened a 35-point lead.

Freshman center Rebekah Maddox added 12 points with Megi Jones scoring seven.

Nicole Jackson and Cassidy Rice-two more freshmen-and Keawna Anders all had six.

Hillary Best topped Chester, making its final SIRR appearance in Anders Gym, with 16 points.

Thursday night, Du Quoin visits Pinckneyville.

The Lady Indians moved back over the .500 mark at the junior varsity level Tuesday night, rolling to a 53-28 win.

Rice hit four three-pointers and ended with a team-high 15 points for Du Quoin with Curry Emling (nine points) and Taylor King (eight) just missing double digits.

Ashley Ward and Jackson each scored six while Heather Cavin added five.

Rice was also team leader in rebounds and assists with five in both categories.

"Again we put together another good game," DHS coach Jason James said.

"We played good defense and moved the ball around on offense."

The young Lady Tribe's records are 8-7 and 3-4.

REGIONAL PAIRINGS

The Illinois High School Assocation (IHSA) released regional tournament pairings for Class 2A last week.

Du Quoin is seeded fifth at the five-team Benton regional and will open against #4 Benton at 7:30 Monday, Feb. 8.

The winner advances to play top-seed West Frankfort

Sesser-Valier/Waltonville and Z-R-C are also entered.

Pinckneyville's been assigned to the area's toughest regional and plays host Sparta at 8 p.m. on Feb. 9.

Nashville, Red Bud and Chester complete the field.

Regional winners from Benton, Sparta, Breese Central and Murphysboro advance to the Du Quoin Class 2A Sectional.

The semifinals are Feb. 16 with the championship game then slated for Thursday, Feb. 18.